and a man who knows the truth but judges contrary to it is in the Fire.” Allah Most High has said:
“O you who believe, stand firmly for justice as witnesses for Allah, even against yourselves, your parents, or your close relatives. Whether someone is rich or poor, Allah is best able to care for both. So do not follow your desires, lest you depart from justice. If you distort your testimony or refuse to give it, Allah is indeed fully aware of what you do.”
“Distortion” means lying, and “refusal” means concealing the truth. A similar meaning appears in the two Sahīh collections, where the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“The buyer and seller have the right to withdraw from the sale until they part. If they are truthful and make matters clear, their transaction will be blessed; but if they lie and conceal, the blessing of their transaction will be erased.”
Moreover, anyone who speaks about this matter with knowledge must have a good intention. If he speaks the truth with the aim of gaining supremacy in the land or spreading corruption, he is like someone who fights out of partisan zeal or to show off. But if he speaks for the sake of Allah Most High, devoting his religion sincerely to Him, he is among those who strive in Allah’s cause, the heirs of the prophets and successors to the messengers.
This does not contradict his saying:
“Backbiting is mentioning about your brother what he dislikes.”
For the brother meant here is a believer. If a believing brother is sincere in his faith, he will not dislike your speaking this truth, which Allah and His Messenger love, even if it constitutes testimony against him and his family. Rather, he must uphold justice and bear witness for Allah, even against himself, his parents, or his close relatives. Whenever he dislikes this truth, his faith is deficient, and his bond of brotherhood diminishes in proportion to that deficiency. His dislike is therefore not taken into account insofar as it stems from the deficiency in his faith; for his dislike of what