Yā Sīn (1); Ezekiel, the believer from Pharaoh’s people (2); and Alī ibn Abī Tālib, who is the best of them.’”
The response is that this is a lie against the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It is authentically established that he described Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—as a Truthful One (3). It is also authentically reported from Ibn Masūd—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:
“Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will continue to speak the truth and strive to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a Truthful One. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness (4) leads to the Fire. A man will continue to lie and strive to lie until he is recorded with Allah as an inveterate liar.” (5)
This shows that the Truthful Ones are many.
Moreover, Allah Most High said of Mary, daughter (6) of Imrān, that she was a Truthful One—and she was a woman.
(1) *Mu’min Āl Yā Sīn* (“the believer of the people of Yā Sīn”): this is the reading in (و) and (ك). The remaining manuscripts read: *min Āl Yā Sīn* (“from the people of Yā Sīn”). Manuscript (ك) adds: “the one who said, ‘O my people, follow the messengers’” [Surah Yā Sīn: 20].
(2) Manuscript (ك) adds: “the one who said, ‘Would you kill a man merely for saying, “My Lord is Allah”?’” [Surah Ghāfir: 28].
(3) In volume 3, n. 2, p. 10 [9–10], I cited the hadith narrated by Saīd ibn Zayd—may Allah be pleased with him—from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Stand firm, Hirā, for upon you there is none but a prophet, a *siddīq* (eminently truthful one), or a martyr.” I identified its locations in the *Sunan* of Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and Ibn Mājah, as well as in *al-Musnad*. The Companions and Successors also called Abū Bakr *al-Siddīq*. See *Sunan Abī Dāwūd*, 3:94, *Kitāb al-Jihād* (Book of Jihad), chapter “The Slain Enemy’s Belongings Are Given to His Killer.” The hadith there is narrated from Abū Qatāda—may Allah be pleased with him. See also *al-Musnad*, al-Halabī ed., 4:4, and the report from Abd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr—may Allah be pleased with him.
(4) Manuscript (ب) alone reads: “and wickedness.”
(5) This hadith was cited previously, 4:266.
(6) Manuscripts (أ), (ب), and (ح) read: *bint* (“daughter of”).