Trust and integrity of character in Islam

One of the most impressive features of Islamic teachings is its firm emphasis on the development of trust and integrity in the human character, so that all men become trustworthy in their relationships, both with their Creator and with their fellow human beings. The depth and the extent of these teachings demonstrates the importance placed in the Quran on this beautiful and important facet of the human character to all of us.

Here I remember the story of our Prophet Mohammad (Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him), before his migration to the City of Madina. He was known in Makkah for his trustworthiness and integrity of character, so much so that he was titled as the ‘Al-Ameen’  (the most trustworthy person), by both the believers and his opponents equally. Before his migration he called upon his son in law, Ali ibn Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), and showed him that many people had entrusted him with their precious personal items for safe-keeping so that Ali may return them.

The Quran speaks to us in many contexts on the importance of trust and trustworthiness, showing it to be an essential element necessary for the development of a decent human society, and in creating the best environment for ensuring peaceful relationships between peoples.

The Quran says: ‘Indeed Allah commands you to render back your trust to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people that you judge with justice. Verily how excellent is the teaching which He gives you. For Allah is He Who hears and sees all things’. S4 V58

Trust is a comprehensive all-encompassing concept in Islam, not restricted to any physical items or goods that have been entrusted with someone but  going far beyond the boundaries of physical objects. It covers, in brief, all rights, responsibilities and other acts and commitments that an individual person has towards any other human being, that need to be delivered and fulfilled.

In Islam it is usually explained that two types of rights are regarded as most the essential:  the rights towards God and the rights towards our fellow human beings, both of which create responsibilities and commitments. All of us are accountable for these rights and we will be questioned how well or badly we have delivered them. They are what make people trustworthy, honest and committed in their lives.  

To understand the comprehensive meaning of trust let us go through some of the following hadith of the prophet.

In a hadith narrated by imam Ahmad, the prophet said: ‘A person has no faith (Imaan) if he is not trustworthy and a person has no religious commitment who does not keep to his pledge and pacts’.

So a Faith in God and religious commitments can only be achieved through demonstrating personal traits of trust and commitment.

In another hadith, narrated in the books of Imam Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet says: ‘each one of you is a keeper and each one of you would be questioned on what he was made responsible to keep. A leader is a keeper and he would be questioned about his responsibility. A man is the keeper of his household and he would be questioned on his responsibility. A wife is responsible for her husband’s house and would be questioned on her commitments. A servant is responsible about the possessions of its owner and would be questioned about its upkeep’.

This hadith reveals the widest and most comprehensive meaning of trust in Islam. It includes every sphere of human life, from the leadership of the country, to perhaps what some would regard as the lowest strata of society, the servant.

In another hadith, the Prophet says, highlighting the role of trust in everyday life and through mutual commitments: ‘the religion is all about dealings’. In other words, how we deal with other people is what usually decides how dedicated we are in our religious commitments and in maintaining the rights of God and rights of all fellow human beings.

From this trait of trustworthiness springs all other important human character traits, for instance, truthfulness. People lie because they were unwilling, or were unable, to fulfil their commitments towards God and their fellow human beings.

 Muslims who are not totally committed towards the fulfilment of these rights, may be seen as treacherous and as betrayers of trust. They also fail to commit themselves to God’s teachings, and are only following the whims and desires of their false characters in the name of Islam.

Islam teaches and presents us with a comprehensive personal development package containing everything we need to become truly committed Muslims.  Just acquiring a 'Muslim' name and  living in a private shell of our own desires, seemingly unaffected by what we do, does not qualify us to be called a Muslim.