5.2.2 Honesty, Justice, and Compassion

Honesty as a Core of Faith

Honesty in Islam is not only about telling the truth with the tongue. It is a state of the heart, a quality of the character, and a trust that Allah has given to every human being. Honesty includes truthfulness in speech, loyalty in promises, fairness in dealings, and purity in intentions. A Muslim is recognized by reliability and truthfulness, not only by outward acts of worship.

Allah praises the people of truth in the Qur’an:

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.”
(Qur’an 9:119)

Truthfulness is directly linked to righteousness and success in the Hereafter. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth and strives to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person. And indeed, lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie and strives in lying until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

In Islam, breaking one’s word or betraying a trust is not a small flaw. It is a serious moral disease. The Prophet ﷺ described signs of a hypocrite, and among them he mentioned dishonesty:

“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise, he breaks it, and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

A Muslim must therefore treat every promise and every trust as something sacred before Allah. Whether it is money kept for someone, confidential information, a responsibility at work, or a role in the family, all are part of the trust that must not be betrayed.

Allah warns against misusing trusts and betraying them:

“O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know.”
(Qur’an 8:27)

Honesty also includes not cheating in business, not misrepresenting products, and not hiding faults. The Prophet ﷺ said about traders who lie and cheat:

“The two parties of a sale have the option (of canceling) as long as they have not separated. If they are truthful and make everything clear, they will be blessed in their transaction. But if they conceal and lie, the blessing of their transaction will be erased.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

In Islam, the value of honesty is greater than any worldly profit gained through deceit. A little wealth that is pure and honest is better than a lot that is tainted with lying and betrayal.

The believer aims to be known as truthful in every situation. Even when truth is difficult or uncomfortable, he remembers that Allah knows and will reward those who remain honest. In this way, honesty becomes a pathway to Allah’s pleasure and a protection from the darkness of hypocrisy.

Justice as an Obligation to Allah and People

Justice in Islam is a duty that begins as obedience to Allah and extends to every relationship in life. It is not limited to courtrooms or governments. Each person is required to be just in their words, actions, and judgments, whether in public or private, with friends or enemies, family or strangers.

Allah commands absolute justice and ties it to piety:

“Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.”
(Qur’an 16:90)

Justice means giving everyone their due right, not favoring the powerful over the weak, the rich over the poor, or relatives over strangers. It means not oppressing anyone in their property, honor, or life. In the Qur’an, Allah commands the believers to uphold justice even if it is against their own interests:

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So do not follow desire, lest you not be just. And if you distort your testimony or refuse to give it, then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.”
(Qur’an 4:135)

This verse shows that justice in Islam is not to be bent by emotions, wealth, family ties, or fear of people. It is a matter between the servant and Allah. A Muslim must speak the truth and stand for what is right, even when uncomfortable, as long as it is done with wisdom and proper manners.

Allah also warns the believers not to let hatred or anger push them into injustice:

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah, indeed Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”
(Qur’an 5:8)

The Prophet ﷺ explained that those who are just will receive great honor on the Day of Judgment:

“Those who are just and fair will be with Allah on pulpits of light, to the right of the Most Merciful, Glorified and Exalted be He, and both His Hands are right. They are those who are just in their rulings, with their families, and in all that over which they have authority.”
(Muslim)

This hadith shows that justice is required at every level. A ruler must be just with his people, a judge with those who come before him, a parent with his children, an employer with his workers, and even a person with his own self, by not oppressing his soul through sin and neglect.

Oppression, on the other hand, is completely forbidden. Allah says:

“And your Lord is not ever unjust to the servants.”
(Qur’an 41:46)

In a hadith qudsi, the Prophet ﷺ narrated that Allah said:

“O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.”
(Muslim)

Oppression can appear in many forms. It could be taking someone’s wealth without right, insulting or humiliating another person, denying someone their due share, or using power to silence the weak. Even speaking unjustly about someone, spreading false accusations, or backbiting is a type of wrongdoing.

On the Day of Judgment, injustice will not be forgotten. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Oppression will be darknesses on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

A believer must therefore examine his dealings and relationships. If he has wronged anyone, he should rush to correct it and seek forgiveness before the Day comes when no wealth or influence can help. Justice is not only a concept in books. It is a continuous effort to treat everyone fairly, to accept the truth against oneself, and to give people their due rights out of fear of Allah.

Compassion as a Reflection of Divine Mercy

Compassion in Islam is a deep quality that reflects something of Allah’s mercy in the character of the believer. It is not limited to kindness to family and friends. True compassion reaches the weak, the poor, the needy, the sinner who repents, and even animals and the environment.

Allah frequently mentions His own mercy and compassion in the Qur’an, reminding the believer to show a portion of that mercy to others:

“So by mercy from Allah, you were gentle with them. And if you had been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.”
(Qur’an 3:159)

This verse describes the Prophet ﷺ and shows that gentleness and compassion were central to his character. Harshness and cruelty, on the other hand, push people away from the truth and from one another.

The Prophet ﷺ stated clearly that mercy is a condition for receiving Allah’s mercy:

“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will be merciful to you.”
(Tirmidhi)

Compassion begins in the home. The Prophet ﷺ was extremely kind with children and taught that lacking mercy is a sign of hardness of heart. When a man saw him kissing his grandson and said that he had ten children but never kissed any of them, the Prophet ﷺ replied:

“Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

Compassion also extends to the weak, the poor, and those in need. Allah praises those who care for such people:

“And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, [saying], ‘We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.’”
(Qur’an 76:8–9)

Helping the distressed, comforting the sad, visiting the sick, and supporting those who have no helper are all acts of compassion beloved to Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever relieves a believer of a worldly distress, Allah will relieve him of a distress of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for one who is in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal him in this world and the Hereafter. Allah helps the servant as long as the servant helps his brother.”
(Muslim)

Compassion is not only for humans. The Prophet ﷺ taught mercy even towards animals. He told of a man whom Allah forgave because he gave water to a thirsty dog, and of a woman who was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died. He ﷺ said:

“In every living being there is a reward (for showing kindness).”
(Bukhari and Muslim)

This shows that Islam calls for a heart that feels concern for all of Allah’s creatures. Unnecessary harm, cruelty, and neglect are against the spirit of faith.

Yet compassion does not mean accepting every wrong or abandoning justice. Islam teaches a balance between mercy and firmness. There are times when discipline is needed, when justice must be applied, and when clear boundaries must be set. Even then, the believer maintains a heart that wishes good for others and prays for their guidance, not one that enjoys humiliation or harm.

The Balance Between Honesty, Justice, and Compassion

Islam does not ask the believer to choose between honesty, justice, and compassion. All three are commanded together, and each one supports the other. When practiced correctly, they form a balanced character that pleases Allah and brings safety to society.

Honesty without compassion can become harsh and hurtful. A person may claim to be “just telling the truth” while speaking in a way that humiliates or harms others unnecessarily. This is not the prophetic way. Truth must be spoken, but with wisdom, gentleness, and suitable timing. Allah instructed Musa and Harun when sending them to Pharaoh:

“And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].”
(Qur’an 20:44)

Here, the mission was to convey a very serious truth, yet they were commanded to use gentle words. This shows that honesty must be accompanied by compassion.

Similarly, compassion without honesty can turn into weakness and confusion, where a person avoids speaking the truth or does not stand against clear wrong out of fear of upsetting others. This kind of “kindness” harms in the long term, because it allows injustice and sin to spread unchecked. Allah does not accept falsehood in the name of mercy.

Justice must also be balanced with compassion. If justice is applied without any mercy, every mistake would be punished with the maximum severity, and forgiveness would disappear from relationships. Yet Allah, the perfectly just, also describes Himself as the Most Merciful and repeatedly invites His servants to repentance and forgiveness.

At the same time, compassion must never erase justice. Protecting the rights of the oppressed sometimes requires firm actions, strict judgments, and clear limits. To ignore this and claim “mercy” for the oppressor is in reality injustice to the victim.

The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated this balance. He was the most truthful, the most just, and the most merciful of people. He forgave when forgiveness brought benefit and guidance, and he applied justice firmly when it was required to protect the community and uphold Allah’s limits. He could be soft and gentle, and he could be strong and unshakable, yet in every situation he remained within the boundaries set by revelation.

A believer should strive to mirror this balance in daily life. In family matters, he should be honest without cruelty, just without favoritism, and compassionate without neglect of responsibilities. In work, he should be truthful and reliable, fair to colleagues and employees, and considerate of their needs. In society, he should stand against oppression, support the weak, and still desire goodness and guidance for all.

Allah summarizes these great qualities in a single verse:

“Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.”
(Qur’an 16:90)

In this command, justice protects rights, good conduct gathers honesty and noble manners, and giving to relatives reflects compassion and care. Together they create a believer whose presence is a source of safety, whose words can be trusted, and whose heart is filled with mercy for the sake of Allah.