In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Truthfulness
[9:119] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and be among the truthful.
Truthfulness is the solid foundation for redeeming our souls. When believers' thoughts, decisions, and uttered words conform with the divine truth, they earn the title: "truthful."
Our truthfulness is the savior from the paths of hypocrisy and sinning. When we sincerely strive to be truthful handling God's words and acting upon them, we plant the seeds of reverence within our souls. Such reverence would consequently augment our truthfulness and enhance our righteousness. Then, we become more reverent and hence more truthful and more righteous. It is a continuing and progressive process for the winning souls that relies mainly on our truthfulness. This is how God supports the believers and shields them from the hypocritical path of the rejected devil. It is a self-charging mechanism of our reverence and righteousness that guards against Satan and renders us worthy of God's love, approval, and support:
[5:119] GOD will proclaim, "This is a day when the truthful will be saved by their truthfulness." They have deserved gardens with flowing streams. They abide therein forever. GOD is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. This is the greatest triumph.
[7:181] Among our creations, there are those who guide with the truth, and the truth renders them righteous.
[33:70] O you who believe, reverence GOD and utter only the correct utterances.
[33:71] He will then fix your works, and forgive your sins. Those who obey GOD and His messenger have triumphed a great triumph.
[19:76] GOD augments the guidance of those who choose to be guided. For the good deeds are eternally rewarded by your Lord, and bring far better returns.
The divine scale of justice is based on truth versus falsehood, and we won't be able to appropriately handle the divine truth if we are not truthful.. We are truthful to our souls when we take this final chance of redemption offered to us on earth seriously and when we handle God's words with extreme integrity. There is no other way around. Selective obedience of God to compromise and please other than God is lying and it leads to nothing but to a hypocritical path, straight to Hill (13:36-37, 15:90-94). Shame and condemnation will be be awaiting at the end of this path (72:14). Some choose to be truthful, handling God's word with honesty but the majority chooses to live and die in deception.
[58:18] The Day will come when GOD resurrects them all. They will swear to Him then, just as they swear to you now, thinking that they really are right! Indeed, they are the real liars.
[58:19] The devil has possessed them, and has caused them to disregard GOD's message. These are the party of the devil. Absolutely, the party of the devil are the losers.
[6:24] Note how they lied to themselves, and how the idols they had invented have abandoned them.
Examine Yourself
[18:103] Say, "Shall I tell you who the worst losers are?
[18:104] "They are the ones whose works in this life are totally astray, but they think that they are doing good."
[10:32] Such is GOD, your rightful Lord. What is there after the truth, except falsehood? How could you disregard all this?
[10:82] GOD establishes the truth with His words, despite the criminals.
[21:17] If we needed amusement, we could have initiated it without any of this, if that is what we wanted to do.
[21:18] Instead, it is our plan to support the truth against falsehood, in order to defeat it. Woe to you for the utterances you utter.
The road-map that teaches us how to truthfully pursue righteousness and instill reverence in our souls is huge and fully illustrated in Quran. These are only few keys:
[55:7] He constructed the sky and established the law.
[55:8] You shall not transgress the law.
Righteousness Defined [2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.
[22:30] Those who reverence the rites decreed by GOD have deserved a good reward at their Lord. All livestock is made lawful for your food, except for those specifically prohibited for you. You shall avoid the abomination of idol worship, and avoid bearing false witness.
Do Not Beat Around the Bush [2:189] They ask you about the phases of the moon! Say, "They provide a timing device for the people, and determine the time of Hajj." It is not righteous to beat around the bush;* righteousness is attained by upholding the commandments and by being straightforward. You shall observe GOD, that you may succeed.
[49:15] Mu'mens (believers) are those who believe in GOD and His messenger, then attain the status of having no doubt whatsoever, and strive with their money and their lives in the cause of GOD. These are the truthful ones.
[59:8] (You shall give) to the needy who immigrated. They were evicted from their homes and deprived of their properties, because they sought GOD's grace and pleasure, and because they supported GOD and His messenger. They are the truthful.
[70:22] Except for the worshipers.
[70:23] Who always observe their contact prayers (Salat).
[70:24] Part of their money is set aside.
[70:25] For the poor and the needy.
[70:26] They believe in the Day of Judgment.
[70:27] They reverence their Lord's requital.
[70:28] Their Lord's requital is not taken for granted.
[70:29] They keep their chastity.
[70:30] (They have relations) only with their spouses, or what is legally theirs -
[70:31] anyone who transgresses these limits is a sinner.
[70:32] And the believers keep their word; they are trustworthy.
[70:33] Their testimony is truthful.
[70:34] They consistently observe their contact prayers (Salat) on time.
[70:35] They have deserved a position of honor in Paradise.
[5:77] Say, "O people of the scripture, do not transgress the limits of your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the opinions of people who have gone astray, and have misled multitudes of people; they are far astray from the right path."
Additional Commandments [6:152] You shall not touch the orphans' money except in the most righteous manner, until they reach maturity. You shall give full weight and full measure when you trade, equitably. We do not burden any soul beyond its means. You shall be absolutely just when you bear witness, even against your relatives. You shall fulfill your covenant with GOD. These are His commandments to you, that you may take heed.
[26:183] "Do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not roam the earth corruptingly.
[26:184] "Reverence the One who created you and the previous generations."
Honesty & Justice Advocated [4:58] GOD commands you to give back anything the people have entrusted to you. If you judge among the people, you shall judge equitably. The best enlightenment indeed is what GOD recommends for you. GOD is Hearer, Seer.
[2:42] Do not confound the truth with falsehood, nor shall you conceal the truth, knowingly.
Gross Offense [2:159] Those who conceal our revelations and guidance, after proclaiming them for the people in the scripture, are condemned by GOD; they are condemned by ALL THE CONDEMNERS.
[3:8] "Our Lord, let not our hearts waver, now that You have guided us. Shower us with Your mercy; You are the Grantor.
[2:286]... "Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make mistakes. Our Lord, and protect us from blaspheming against You, like those before us have done. Our Lord, protect us from sinning until it becomes too late for us to repent. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us*. You are our Lord and Master. Grant us victory over the disbelieving people."
Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless.