The Universality of Truthfulness

Truthfulness (ṣidq) is not exclusive to speech; rather, every expression of reality, whether in belief, in ethics, or in actions and behavior, if it corresponds to reality, is truthfulness. Thus the truthfulness of a Muslim is in all his doctrinal, ethical, and behavioral traditions and conduct. For this reason, the Qur’an considers fulfilling a covenant as truthfulness and counts the faithful as truthful (ṣādiq), even though he is not reporting something or being an informant, but rather because his action or belief or ethics corresponds to reality, he is truthful: “Among the faithful are men who fulfil what they have pledged to Allah.”(369)

Falsehood (kadhib) is also not exclusive to speech, but rather every belief, ethics, actions, and behavior that is contrary to the reality it indicates is falsehood.