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Honesty is one of the great and valuable human moral virtues which is clearly emphasized in the fundamental Islamic sources. It is sufficient concerning the importance of this issue to mention that Allah ÓÈÍÇäå æÊÚÇáì has repeatedly promised reward to truthful people in the Holy Quran, for instance; When we refer to Hadiths, we see that lie is mentioned as a key of all evils. In this regard, Imam Hassan Al-askari (A.S) said, “جُعِلَت الخَبائِثُ كُلّها فى بَیتٍ و جُعِلَ مِفتاحُها الكذب”. All evils are placed in a house where lies is its key. [2] Although the effect of honesty is obvious, but more thinking and studying aim us to know at least its targets and influences in human life. What comes in the following is a part of these targets; 1- Attainment of people's trust. We know that man is a social creature in which collective actions are as the basis of his acts. What is important to express is that the collective actions would take place, when individuals have full confidence about each other. To have full confidence will not be ascertained without being honest to each other, no matter is in educational, cultural, political acts or etc. As a result, the foundation of any spiritual and material progress in society is a mutual trust which is derived from honesty. In this regard, Imam Ali (A.S) said, “«الکذاب و المیت سواء فان فضیلة الحى على المیت الثقة به، فاذا لم یوثق بکلامه فقد بطلت حیاته”. Liar and dead ones are the same, because the trustworthiness is the cause of superiority of an alive person over dead one, therefore, his being alive is void (ineffective) when there is no trust to his speech. 2- Attainment of prestige and good character. Honesty causes prestige and great personality for a human whereas lying is the cause of scandal and disgrace. Imam Ali (A.S) said, “علیک بالصدق، فمن صدق فى اقواله جل قدره”. Say always the truth, because an honest gains more magnitude and position in society. 3- Attainment of bravery and courage. Truth and honesty give man courage and bravery whereas lying swallows him in a deep fearing for fealty that reveal all of his untruth sayings. 4- Resolving of community problems Most of problems which occur in the communities are caused by lying. In societies where people and its politicians are honest, people are relaxed in which it cause less crime and less probes to detect lies. Therefore, those expenses which have been occurred by lying in society would be decreased. 5- Removing of objections and disputes Most disputes and conflicts among people refer to denial of truth and honesty. Honesty in speech and behavior are the most important factors to eliminate these issues. According to what mentioned, it can be concluded that honesty is essential in order to have a safe and calm life. 1- http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.qarai/33:24 2- Bihar Al-anvar, vol 72, p 262

Alsalamu AlaykumDue to approve the significance of the issue of ‘honesty’ in Islam, I would rather start my answer with a verse of the holy Quran in this regard: Honesty is one of the good deeds of human being in which comprise specific position in religion and wisdom. Islam as an approved religion by Allah ÓÈÍÇäå æÊÚÇáì for servants, invites human to refer to his nature. Pure nature of human necessitates adaptability and coordination of apparent and conscience, so that he shall express by his tongue what he positively believes in his heart. Honesty and trustworthiness are the most distinctive features that act as excellent examples and directly relate to social relations. We can refer to Islamic narrations to know the influences of honesty in life. They have clearly expressed the effects of honesty in our life whether are in this world or in the eternal world. The following effects would be mentioned as examples; 5- It is a way to gain relaxation: Imam Ali (A.S.) said: “leave what lead you to be annihilated and refuge what does not lead you to that. Lying is the cause of annihilation and truthfulness is the cause of relaxation”. For more info, you can see; 1-http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.qarai/33:24 2-http://english.almaaref.org/essaydetails.php?eid=1358&cid=170 https://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?print=13333

I just watched the movie "Throne of Blood" by Akira Kurosawa the film really highlights how treachery and ambition can ruin your life. In that movie the character was ambitious and he killed before he was killed and ultimately it led him to treachery, dishonesty, murder, and it was all done because of ambition and power. I really recommend the movie, it is a masterpiece which will scare you away from ambition and encourage you to be honest and thankful in humbleness.

As-salam alaikum dear brothers and sisters... This is my first post on this site, so please forgive me of any errors and or ignorance I show of lingo used here or what have you. What is written below here, is not of any real philosophical nature, but more, words from my heart; a heart right now that is very heavy. I realize, given the status of the world right now, from environment to, what I sense as, the general apathy towards everything by humanity, their rudeness, unkindness, and other failings, what I am feeling right now does not qualify as any real problem, it is not truly important in the grand scheme, nor do I wish, through ego, to make it so. I write this because I feel alone, and I desperately need to find some solace. Always, I turn to Allah and the Divine in these times, and then to loved ones, but I need foster stronger ties to the Shia community, my community, and that is why I joined this site today. I lost a friend. And then several. They didn't die, al hamdulillah. They left my side, because I was discovered to be a Shia Muslim woman and not a follower of Sunni thought. Based on the nation where I have ties to, automatically, yet ignorantly, people assume I must be Sunni. I am not. I never was. And I never will be. I posted a video, the adhan from Karbala, Iraq, complete with the verse for Imam Ali, and the words that Prophet Muhammad, SAW, spoke for Ali that start, "...I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is the Gate...". As you know it is Ramadan, blessed Ramadan, and I posted this video to my Facebook page to truly post something that I found beauty in, something I loved, was moved by, etc. All month I have been posting inspirational and truly wondrous pictures of masjids, people, spiritual music, verses from the Qur'an, adhans from here and there, and even more so, the desperate need for true and strong Shia-Sunni unity; the return of the Ummah. All month long I had been getting positive feedback, from all sorts of people, mostly Sunni though, because most of the Muslims in my area are Sunni, but regardless, perhaps I was hoping that we had reached a point in time where people were more willing to embrace peace, more aware of the need for love in the world and the dismissal of the sinful plague of division. But this night, this past Saturday night, I posted this adhan just before Fajr and fell back asleep, no I am not trying to cheat through the days of Ramadan, I truly didn't feel well, so I rested again. I awoke at 11am-ish and to over 20 notifications on my phone. Many of the Shia friends I have had liked and commented positively on the video. But there was one guy, who ironically, is Iraqi by descent and went on a full blown tirade about the "evil and unauthentic nature" of this adhan and how wayward Shia thought is in general. He even went as far as to say, alarmingly stupidly though, "I would rather be part of the majority than the minority. Would you rather get a 95% (Sunni) on a test, or a 5% (Shia) on a test???" -- Spend no time refuting the percentages, I know they are wrong. You know they are wrong. He is a fool, a buffoon, an idiot. So what bothers me about such a silly, stupid man? Well...his mother is dying. Dying. And I have been one of the only people holding his hand, comforting him, encouraging him, seriously making dua after dua for him and his family and for her sake, Allah yer7ama, and I am absolutely stunned that in this moment, well for just this post, my posting of this adhan, could have brought out such disgust and resentment in him to FORGET all that I was doing for him, all the conversations, the tender moments (non-sexual please, this was a platonic friendship), the laughs, the tears...and just completely erupt, in a clearly brainwashed manner, bashing and railing against me, my friends, the Shia of today, he even went as far as to insult Imam Hussain and Imam Ali...I was just stunned. And hurt. I had missed much of the conversation due to my sleeping, so when I woke to these things and finally posted something very short and simple, compared to the long responses of Shia friends and his ramblings, I wrote..."I love it (sarcasm). Sunni Muslims fight against the Yazids of today, but then they rail against and hate on the Shia people...thus embracing Yazid. (His name), for the record, majority does not guarantee right or just." I then realized that he had un-friended me. Again, this is not about the details of the matter, and let me remind you that I know this is not an earth-shattering event, but it did get me thinking, and it very truly is about principle. A friend, a fellow Palestinian (but male) wrote, I am Palestinian and 100% Shia and then he wrote about his dismay over what this Iraqi had written, especially during Ramadan...he then said, "I guess this is where taqqiyah comes from". No. I refuse. For the sake of Imam Hussain, and Ahlul Bayt, I refuse to hid who I am. I know that from where I sit, this is easy. I live in no real danger, unlike my brothers and sisters in Bahrain for example, but no. I will not hide. I will not deny. I will not be scared or live a double life. I refuse taqqiyah. I refuse to let our people walk like ghosts, sliding through the Muslim, mostly Arab Sunni, world like jinn, never really showing our true selves, hiding our tears during Ashura and renouncing Muhammad's (SAW) family. I refuse. I have suffered many hardships in my life, when I was a child, and from where I sit now, I refuse to cower again. I wish I could, and I want to urge, scream to the heavens, all of my fellow Shia people to never accept living in shadow! We do not deserve this! And moreover, the very name and memory of Imam Hussain does not deserve this! I wrote on the bottom of the post, for all to see, "I will not hide. Live honorably and honestly or die in vain. Never will I hide my true Muslim path!" ...I suspect more people have pulled away from me. And this is why my heart is heavy. In the face of complete isolation, I will not break, and I dearly hope you do not either. I will not hide. I will not accept taqqiyah. I am who I am. And our path is the glorious path that it is. My brothers and sisters, it is time for us to throw off the cloak of secrecy. These people are meant to be our own (the Sunni) but they refuse our truth. This is injustice. And it must be challenged! These thoughts and feelings are my own. Much respect and due love to all the Shia in the world suffering at the hands of corrupt governments, oppressive lovers, friends and or families. May Allah shine His light upon you and may we all be free!!!!