1326 — Ibn Masʿūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Commit yourselves to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A person keeps telling the truth and seeking it out until he is recorded with Allah as ever-truthful. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A person keeps lying and pursuing falsehood until he is recorded with Allah as an inveterate liar.” Agreed upon (1).

— Vocabulary of the hadith —
• ʿAlaykum bi-ṣidq: ‘adhere to truthfulness,’ i.e., reporting things exactly as they are.
• al-Birr: a comprehensive term that embraces sound creed, fruitful faith, and every wholesome deed of heart and limb; it therefore covers the performance of all commands and the avoidance of all prohibitions.
• Ṣiddīqan: an intensive form meaning one who attains the highest degree of truthfulness; its indefiniteness here conveys exaltation and emphasis.
• al-Fujūr: with ḍamma, to plunge into sin with no concern for engaging in debauchery, corruption, or any transgression. Al-Miṣbāḥ says: “Fajara al-ʿabdu fujūran—he committed immorality and adultery; fajara al-ḥālifu fujūran—he swore an oath falsely.”
• Yuktabu ʿinda Allah: in both occurrences it means ‘it is decreed for him by Allah.’