The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 27
I - Commencement of the Second Era of Life in Madīnah 27 1 ْ اَللّٰھُم َّ صَل ِّ عَلَیْه ِ وَاٰلِه ٖ وَسَلِّم In conclusion, the Holy Prophet sa did not at all commit anything unlawful or against good morals by hiding his movements in war or by employing a plan of caution. As a matter of fact, the truth is that these tactics are proof of the farsightedness and vigilance of the Holy Prophet sa. An individual who raises an allegation on such things, furnishes proof of his own ignorance. It should also be remembered that “Tauriyyah ” (i. e. to conceal) and a misstatement of the facts (i. e. lying) are as far apart as heaven and earth. No sensible individual can equate the two of these things together. Tauriyyah means to hide something, i. e. , to speak in a manner, by which under the best course of action, something is concealed, so as to prevent disorder. However, falsehood means to state something contrary to the facts and to speak a lie. There is a world of difference between these two concepts. In one’s daily life, man hides hundreds of things - some on account of shame and modesty, some on the basis of preventing disorder, while others due to some illicit reason. However, to this day, no sensible individual has objected to this course of action, as a matter of fact, this is thought of as a very commendable trait. Fabricating the truth and lying is something quite different; which to any noble individual is a hateful and unlawful action. Islām has strictly prohibited this and declared it unlawful, so much so, that there is a Ḥadīth that on one occasion someone inquired of the Holy Prophet sa , “O Messenger of Allāh! What is the greatest sin of all sins?” At that time, the Holy Prophet sa was reclining on a cushion in his gathering. The Holy Prophet sa first mentioned Shirk and the disobedience of parents and then sat up, very fervently stating the following: ِ اَلَا وَقَوْل َ الزُّوْرِ. . . اَلَا وَقَوْل َ الزُّوْر “O Ye! Pay heed! O Ye! Pay heed! After them, the greatest of sins is to speak a lie. ” 2 The narrator states that the Holy Prophet sa repeated these words again and again with such passion, that considering the discomfort of the 1 O Allāh, invoke blessings and salutations on the Holy Prophet and his followers. (Publishers) 2 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābush-Shahādāt, Bābu Mā Qīla Fī Shahādataz-Zūri, Ḥadīth No. 2654 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Adab, Bābu ‘Uqūqil-Wālidaini Minal-Kabā’iri, Ḥadīth No. 5976 (Publishers)