There are honest people, and they are respected. Perhaps not by me, nor by you. Because my conscience has rotted, and your self-interest has been hurt. So, who values honest people? Allah does. The one with whom Allah is pleased has no need for me or you. What is the reward of honesty? Blessings in earnings and peace in family life. The tranquility with which a good person sleeps at night is beyond our imagination. Honest people are also tested. In the test of honesty, Allah Himself guides them through.
Do honest people not face hardships? They do. But the trials of good people open the locks of the gates of Jannah.
So, does no one like honest people? Some do. There are people in society who are oppressed, persecuted, and neglected—those whose rightful freedoms are imprisoned by the whims of tyrants. Such people find support in honest individuals. In return for that support, honest people receive the sincere prayers of the common folk. Those who earn the selfless and unconditional prayers of others—what more do they need in this fleeting life? The prayers of people and the love of others can take someone farther than we can imagine; even the angels know this. A prayer does not stop until it allows a person to smell the fragrance of Jannah.
An honest person must renounce the temptations of worldly luxuries, endure insults and neglect, and confront numerous conspiracies. But no obstacle can divert an honest person from their destination. If someone’s sole ambition is to enjoy worldly comfort, they will seize any chance to take bribes, seek pleasure in the forbidden, or sell their integrity. However, honesty aims much further—toward a far greater and eternal realm beyond this worldly life. Those who believe they must account for every deed can never wrongfully take even a single penny. They cannot neglect their responsibilities or even entertain the thought of deceiving someone.
If you search, you will find honest people. Many exist all around us. The truthful and the upright, even amidst vast wealth, do not entertain the idea of taking even two illegal coins. They do not abuse their power to deprive others of their rights. Their every word and action are acts of worship. They earn respect from people’s hearts and receive prayers from the prayer mats of the pious at night. They gain longevity from the self-restraint of those who fast. Those whom the Almighty Himself favors are never a threat to anyone’s life or a violator of anyone’s rights. The world remains beautiful because of honest people. That is why trust still exists, and faith endures. The inherent value of honesty is what fills the world with the fragrance of goodness.
Every good person is like a flower—whose thoughts bring benefit instead of harm, whose heart seeks the welfare of others. They are treasures of the world. Good people are honored like deities among men. Those who speak the truth, who never waver under pressure, and who are free from arrogance or pride—they are sent to this world for a short time by the Almighty. With the brilliance of their honesty, they illuminate the world and depart, returning to their Lord. Those who adopt their ideals, who uphold the truth, and who walk the path of righteousness—no matter how much people try to dishonor them, they ultimately fail. The light of honesty that emerged from the Cave of Hira was never sent to this world to be extinguished. Those who have tried to put it out have themselves faded away.
