Speaking truth is a scarce characteristic found in people these days.
It could be difficult for a person to be 100% honest and authentic because speaking the truth often brings dangerous consequences.
At the same time, telling the truth is also rewarding.
It gives you long-term benefits. It opens up new paths in life.
Often in our day-to-day lives, we face situations where we think we have no other option but to lie.
We get afraid and lie.
But that’s not the right thing to do. Maybe at that moment, we can get out of some trouble but later we’ll have to speak more lies to cover up that one lie.
That’s why all religions, Islam, Christianity, etc. emphasize speaking the truth.
In this article, we’ve shared the health benefits of telling the truth.
We’ve also shared what Islam says about speaking the truth.
At the end of this post, you’ll find quotes from famous people about the benefits of speaking the truth.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Health benefits of telling the truth
Truth is always the path to choose. You may initially feel the urge to lie but remember truth is the only way that eventually benefits you.
Telling lies may benefit you for a while, but the benefits won’t last long.
People who lie often may also face health issues. You should try your best to stick strictly to the truth.
Many studies worldwide prove that speaking the truth may positively impact your health, whereas when a person lies, he may feel negative implications on his health.
There are so many health benefits of telling the truth.
1) Protection of mental health
Telling the truth keeps our brains calm.
It gives us a sense of satisfaction. This helps in protecting your mental health.
“It takes strength and courage to admit the truth.” – Rick Riordan
2) Stress and anxiety control
You don’t have anything to worry about when you tell the truth.
You feel confident and comfortable because you don’t have to make up stories. This way, your anxiety and stress levels will remain in control.
“An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie. It takes great courage to back the truth unacceptable to our times. There’s a punishment for it, and it’s usually crucifixion.” – John Steinbeck
3) Psychological health
Psychologically you feel very relaxed when you choose to speak the truth.
Even though you may face serious consequences, your mind remains relaxed.
“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” – Spencer Johnson
4) Controlled blood pressure and heartbeat
When a person lies, he has to make up stories.
He knows he’s not speaking the right thing.
When he chooses to walk on a path that is not right, he may notice an increase in his heart rate and blood pressure.
“It is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak the truth and expose lies.” – Noam Chomsky
5) Positivity
The person who speaks the truth in all situations also remains positive in any circumstance.
He also spreads positivity around him.
At the same time, the person who lies always thinks negatively, thus causing his health to be at risk.
“There is a price to pay for speaking the truth. There is a bigger price for living a lie.” – Cornel West
Benefits of speaking truth in Islam
Islam puts great emphasis on speaking the truth.
It may not always be easy, and you may sometimes face many challenges following the path of truth, but it comes with long-term rewards.
Caliph Umar (RA) famously said to a congregation of Muslims gathered in a mosque near Jerusalem:
“… And speak the truth. Do not hesitate to say what you consider to be the truth. Say what you feel. Let your conscience be your guide. Let your intentions be good, for verily God is aware of your intentions. In your deeds, your intentions count. Fear God, and fear no one else.” – John Alden Williams, ed., Themes of Islamic Civilization (Berkeley; University of California).
Allah (SWT) says:
“O ye who believe! Be careful of your duty to Allah and be with the truthful.” – Quran (9:119)
Through Quran and Hadith, we come to know that truthfulness comes with great benefits.
Some of them are:
1) It is a necessity
It is one of the major necessities of our society.
If truthfulness gets eliminated from society, situations can become disastrous for everyone in it.
Allah (SWT) says:
“Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the truth.” – Qur’an (2:42)
2) Human attitude
Truthfulness depicts the excellence of human attitude.
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“Be truthful since honesty will lead you to the truth, and righteousness leads you to heaven. And someone must always act honestly and always be honest so that they will be recorded by Allah (SWT) as an honest person. And avoid conducting lies since lies will lead you to evil, and evil leads you to hell. And a person always applies lies and always lies so that he is recorded by Allah (SWT) as a liar.” (Narrated by Muslim)
On another point, he (PBUH) said:
“No man can attain a firm faith, unless he developed strength of character and that cannot be achieved unless one acquires the habit of speaking the truth.” Nahjul Balagha: Ali (RA)
3) Great rewards
For people who follow the path of truth, Allah (SWT) has promised great rewards for the people in this life and hereafter.
In the Quran, Allah (SWT) mentions:
“And the one who has brought the truth and (they who) believed in it – those are the righteous. They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the doers of good – That Allah may remove from them the worst of what they did and reward them their due for the best of what they used to do.” (Az-Zumar: 33 – 35)
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.” (Quran At-Tawbah : 119)
Imam Ibn Kathir (May Allah Have mercy on him) says about this verse:
“This verse says, adhere to and always say the truth, so that you become among its people and be saved from destruction and calamities. Allah will make a way for you out of your concerns and a refuge.”
4) Gaining respect and trust
Islam teaches us that the person who speaks the truth will gain the respect and trust of the people around him.
As the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“Two parties to a deal have the option of changing their minds until they part, if they are open and honest, their deal will be blessed, and if they conceal and tell lies, the blessing of their deal will be diminished. ” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari & Muslim)
5) Maintains peace
Besides following rules and laws and maintaining the peace of society, Islam teaches us always to be truthful to gain as many benefits as possible.
Quran says:
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just, that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (Al – Maidah: 8)
“‘This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.’ For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment,” (Al-Ma’idah: 119)
6) Avoiding bad habits and sins
Lying is a bad habit. When a person lies, he accuses others of the wrong things, blames others, and speaks falsely of others.
If a person follows the path of truth, he will eliminate all these bad habits.
Naturally, when a person stops lying, he will also avoid sinning because every sin requires him to lie.
Allah (SWT) says:
“Indeed, those who do not believe in the verse of Allah – Allah will not guide them, and for them is a painful punishment. They only invent falsehood who do not believe in the verse of Allah, and it is those who are the liars.” (An-Nahl : 104 – 105)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that:
“The worst crime is the spoken of liars.” (Al-Bihar: 21/29)
Imam Ali said:
“Be careful of lying, for (the place of) lying is the lowest of bad morals, as the part of violation and the example of the contemptible.” (Al-Bihar: 78/16)
7) Being at ease
The people who are truthful and avoid lying will remain at ease.
The people who lie keep worrying about the lies they may have told others. What if someday someone discovers their false stories?
Everything will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.
Even if the deed is as small as a particle of dust, we must be answerable for that.
Allah (SWT) says:
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart – about all those (one) will be questioned.” (Al – Isra: 36)
8) Strong heart
Truthfulness makes a Muslim’s heart strong and content.
Amir-ul Mu’mineen Ali (RA), the fourth Caliph, said:
“Adhere to the cause of truth and justice wherever you find it.” – Nahjul Balagha
9) The closeness of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in the following hadith:
“Thus among you, the person closest to me in the Judgement Day is the most truthful of his words.”
10) Keeping away from Hellfire
Islam teaches us that telling lies is the worst of the crimes and leads to Hellfire.
So truthful people will be rewarded with Paradise and kept away from the fire of hell.
Allah (SWT) says:
“And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allah? Those will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, ‘These are the ones who lied against their Lord. ‘Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.” (Hud: 18)
Ahadith about telling the truth
In different ahadith, our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us about the consequences of lying.
He urged us always to speak the truth no matter what happens. Also, he told us about the rewards of speaking the truth.
Let us see some of the ahadith below about speaking the truth.
1) “Shall I not tell you of the greatest of major sins?” Sahaba said, “Yes indeed,” He said, “Associating others with Allah (shirk) and disobedience towards parents.” But then Rasul-Allah sat up and said, “And false speech and false witness, and false speech and false witness,” and he kept on saying it until sahaba thought he would never stop.
2)”You must be truthful. Verily, truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to be truthful and encourages honesty until he is recorded with Allah as truthful. And beware of falsehood. Verily, falsehood leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to the Hellfire. A man continues to tell lies and encourages falsehood until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” – Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6094, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2607
3) “Beware of telling lies.”
4) “He who swears an oath in which he tells a lie to take the property of a Muslim by unfair means, will meet Allah while He is angry with him.” – Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 15, Number 3237
5) “Truthfulness is tranquility and falsehood is suspicion.” – At-Tirmidhi
6) “There are four things, which if you possess, then you should not regret whatever you miss from this world: speaking the truth, fulfilling trusts, good manners and lawful source of provision.” – Imam Ahmad
7) “If you guarantee me six things on your part, I shall guarantee you Paradise: Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it when you are trusted with something, fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your gaze (in modesty) and restrain your hands from injustice.” – Imam Ahmad
Benefits of telling the truth quotes
“Beauty is truth’s smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror.” – Rabindranath Tagore
“We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters… that you don’t take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules… and success doesn’t count unless you earn it fair and square.” – Michelle Obama
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” – Albert Einstein
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” – Buddha
“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.” – Elvis Presley
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” – Winston Churchill
“Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.” – Isaac Newton
“Be Impeccable with Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” – Don Miguel Ruiz
“There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.” – Leo Tolstoy
“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity.” – W. Clement Stone
“A great man does not seek applause or place; he seeks for truth; he seeks the road to happiness, and what he ascertains, he gives to others.” – Robert Green Ingersoll
“To live in the light of a new day and an unimaginable and unpredictable future, you must become fully present to a deeper truth – not a truth from your head, but a truth from your heart; not a truth from your ego, but a truth from the highest source.” – Debbie Ford
“For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth.” – Bo Bennett
“Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.” – Albert Einstein
“Honest communication is built on truth and integrity and upon respect of the one for the other.” – Benjamin E. Mays
“You can hate me. You can go out there and say anything you want about me, but you will love me later because I told you the truth.” – Mary J. Blige
“Truth is the torch that gleams through the fog without dispelling it.” – Claude Adrien Helvetius
“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” – Arthur Conan Doyle
“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Truth is so rare that it is delightful to tell it.” – Emily Dickinson
“The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sunshine and the winds blow; indeed, all things rest upon truth.” – Chanakya
“Stop holding your truth; speak your truth. Be yourself. It’s the healthiest way to be.” – Tiffany Haddish
“I believe there’s an inner power that makes winners or losers. And the winners are the ones who really listen to the truth of their hearts.” – Sylvester Stallone
“On the mountains of truth, you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
“There is nothing so strong or safe in an emergency of life as the simple truth.” – Charles Dickens
“Seek not greatness, but seek truth and you will find both.” – Horace Mann
“Every Christian must be convinced of his fundamental and vital duty of bearing witness to the truth in which he believes and the grace that has transformed him.” – Pope John XXIII
“Truth is the ultimate power. When the truth comes around, all the lies have to run and hide” – Ice Cube
“Free expression is the base of human rights, the root of human nature and the mother of truth. To kill free speech is to insult human rights, to stifle human nature and to suppress truth.” – Liu Xiaobo
“Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” – Oscar Wilde
“Search for the truth is the noblest occupation of man; its publication is a duty.” – Madame de Stael
“The truth that is suppressed by friends is the readiest weapon of the enemy.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
“Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.” – Edward R. Murrow
“Truth is truth to the end of reckoning.” – William Shakespeare
“The naked truth is always better than the best-dressed lie.” – Ann Landers
“Always tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember what you said.” – Mark Twain
“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” – Joe Klaas
“Truth crushed to earth shall rise again.” – William Cullen Bryant
“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky
“Tell the truth, or someone will tell it for you.” – Stephanie Klein
“Don’t assume, ask. Be kind. Tell the truth. Don’t say anything you can’t stand behind fully. Have integrity. Tell people how you feel.” – Warsan Shire
“Better to get hurt by the truth than comforted with a lie.” – Khaled Hosseini
“There is beauty in truth, even if it’s painful. Those who lie, twist life so that it looks tasty to the lazy, brilliant to the ignorant, and powerful to the weak.” – José N. Harris
“The high-minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think.” – Aristotle