Sidq
صدقDefinition
Sidq — truthfulness — is al-Ghazali's crown virtue in this book: the complete correspondence between inner reality and outer expression across all dimensions of the self. The person of sidq believes what they profess, feels what they claim to feel, says what they actually think, and does what they say they will do. There is no gap between their public face and their private reality. Al-Ghazali presents sidq as the natural fruit of sustained ikhlas: when the intention has been purified to the point where one is performing only for God, there is no longer any incentive to manage one's appearance for anyone else — and the gap between inner and outer begins to close. Sidq is ultimately the fruit of being witnessed only by God.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Sidq.
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"Scholars have discussed the reality of truthfulness, often addressing specific meanings. Abu Bakr al-Warraq said truthfulness has three parts: the truthfulness of monotheism, the truthfulness of obedience, and the truthfulness of knowledge. The truthfulness of monotheism is for the general believers, as Allah Almighty said, "And those who believe in Allah and His messengers — they are the Siddiqeen."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 37: The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness
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"and I dealt with You with betrayal between me and You," and he would weep. Abi Ya'qub al-Nahrujuri said, "Truthfulness is aligning with the truth both inwardly and outwardly." Thus, the equivalence of inward and outward is one type of truthfulness. The sixth level of truthfulness, which is the highest and rarest, is truthfulness in the stations of religion, such as truthfulness in fear, hope, reverence, asceticism, satisfaction, reliance, love, and all other matters."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 37: The Book of Intention, Sincerity, and Truthfulness
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"resolve — so that he is true to Him in his resolve and true in his action. God, exalted is He, said: "And when the matter is resolved upon, were they but true to God, it would be better for them." His happiness, then, lies in truthfulness of resolve and truthfulness of deed. Truthfulness of resolve is to gather it and make it firm, without wavering within it — rather, it becomes a resolve unmixed with hesitation or delay. And once his resolve is true, there remains upon him truthfulness of action,"
— Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Fawāʾid — Points of Benefit, Volume Two
Appears in
2 books in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Sidq the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.