another evil deed that follows it, just as part of the reward for a good deed is another good deed that follows it. Good deeds may go hand in hand and lead to one another, as may evil deeds. Thus, an authentic hadith narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth and strives to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as thoroughly truthful. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A servant continues to lie and deliberately pursues falsehood until he is recorded with Allah as a habitual liar.”

Truthfulness is the key to every good, just as lying is the key to every evil. Hence, it is related that one of the shaykhs said to a follower whom he had urged to repent, “I counsel you only to be truthful.” On reflection, they found that truthfulness led him to every good.

For this reason, Allah, glorified be He, distinguished the people of blessedness from the people of wretchedness by this criterion, saying:

“Who, then, is more unjust than one who lies about Allah and rejects the truth when it comes to him? Is there not a dwelling in Hell for the disbelievers? And those who bring the truth and believe in it—it is they who are mindful of Allah. They will have whatever they wish with their Lord. That is the reward of those who do good, so that Allah may expiate