Trust

We Praise Allah Lord of the Realms, and his prayers and blessings be upon his Messenger Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

Allah Almighty ordered us to render back trusts “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due” [Al-Nisa’ 4:58]

Transliteration: Inna Allaha yamurukum an tuaddoo alamanati ila ahliha

He warned us of betraying it “O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].” [Al-Anfal 8:27]
 

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la takhoonoo Allaha waalrrasoola watakhoonoo amanatikum waantum taAAlamoona

The Messenger of Allah informed us that betraying a trust is an act of hypocrisy, he said: "The signs of a hypocrite are three:

1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
2. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise).
3. If you trust him, he proves to be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return it.)"
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]

Ka’b Ibn Zuhair – May Allah be pleased with him – said in his poetry:-

I preserve the trust never betray it
As the wrong route is the betrayers end

Why all the concern with trust?

Trust is the foundation of this world, could it be imagined without it? If one of us seeks a husband to his daughter, he would want the best of men trusted to keep this precious trust. The sensible man would take the religious woman as a wife that could be trusted with his honor, children and home.

Life is balanced this way, the more trust is betrayed the more life is corrupted. The Messenger of Allah said: there will come a day when people will deal in business with each other but there will hardly be any trustworthy persons among them. Then it will be said “that in such-and-such a tribe there is such-and-such person who is trustworthy”. [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 

The Messenger of Allah informed the companions – May Allah be pleased with them – about the state of corruption the world will come to when the elite of people following him disappear leaving behind the evil ones who spoiled their covenants and trust. He said: What will you do in near future where people are about to be sieved greatly, there will remain scum of people who confused their covenants and trusts. [Reported by Ibn Majjah and authenticated by Al-Albani]
 

Therefore, whenever the people emerge deeper in corruption the more corrupted their living turns until trust vanishes, apparently the world won’t be fit for living, subsequently the hour will arise, confirmed by the words of the Messenger of Allah who said: “When trust is lost, then await the Hour (Doomsday).” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 

The most trusted amongst People

No wonder that trust is one of the special attributes of the carriers of the greatest trust, it is the trust of conveying the Message of Allah Almighty. Allah qualifies for such rank the most trustworthy among his creatures, for his revelations “The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down” [Al-Shu’ara’ 26:193]
 

Transliteration: Nazala bihi alrroohu alameenu

It was Jibreel - May Allah’s peace be upon him - the one trusted with revelation. Allah wants people to believe his call to them, thus he sends to people trusted men from among them. In Surat Al-Shu’ara’ Allah Almighty informs us with the common quality every Messenger shares “Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger” [Al-Shu’ara’ 26:162]
 

Transliteration: Innee lakum rasoolun ameenun

Our Prophet was famous for his trustworthy reputation among his people before and after the revelation, for this reason people used to entrust him with their belongings to preserve it. When he made his Hijjrah (emigration) to Madina, he delegated ‘Ali Ibn Aby Talib – May Allah be pleased with him – to return the entrusted belongings to its owners. He was the most trustworthy person among people, and that’s how the people of knowledge calling people to this message must be, as they are carrying the greatest trust, which is the Message of Allah to his slaves.

The Origin of Trust

The scholars have traced the origin of trust to two Matters:

Firstly

A trust for the rights of Allah Exalted he be, which is acts of worship. Its everything Allah have imposed on his slaves like Praying, Zakat (Obligatory Charity), Fasting Ramadan, purification and other kinds. It also covers refraining from what Allah had forbidden us from prohibited matters. Our eyesight is a trust that we were entrusted with, so we preserve by not looking at forbidden things, our hearing ability is a trust entrusted to us to preserve from hearing forbidden matters, the heart is a trust entrusted to us to keep it safe from any trivial knowledge that would affect it. Allah Almighty said “Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.” [Al-Isra’ 17:36]

Transliteration: inna alssamAAa waalbasara waalfuada kullu olaika kana AAanhu masoolan

This is the trust that had been entrusted by Allah to his slaves to carry it, who carries it out righteously will be honored while who neglects it is will be fined!!!

Secondly

Trust connected to people’s rights, which also goes under the order of Allah, He Almighty “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due” [Al-Nisa’ 4:58]
 

Transliteration: Inna Allaha yamurukum an tuaddoo alamanati ila ahliha

Trust in the rights of people is numerous:

1- Monetary trust

It is the sum of money entrusted to a person to preserve it on behalf of its owner, who does not return this trust will not be trustworthy and held accountable for it. Also the wage of a laborer is a trust to whomever he works for, this kind is considered one of the greatest trusts. Whoever abates the right of a servant or cut down the wage of a laborer let him know the woes he will be undergoing by The Glorious The Almighty. The Prophet said in Holy Hadith: "Allah said, 'I will be an opponent to three types of people on the Day of Resurrection: 1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but proves treacherous; 2. One who sells a free person and eats his price; and 3. One who employs a laborer and takes full work from him but does not pay him for his labor.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 

A person must beware not to be an opponent to Allah The King of Judgment day, so whoever hires a laborer and doesn’t give him his right, he has betrayed the trust.

2- Trust of the Job

Whoever is hired to do a certain job, must carry it out in the best way agreed on. Muslims are abide to their conditions as been stated by the Messenger of Allah: Muslims are abide to their conditions except for a condition that forbids a permissible matter or permits a forbidden matter. [Reported by Al-Tirmizi and Al-Albani said Authentic by the virtues of another hadith]
 

Allah Almighty ordered to fulfill faithfully the trust under contracts He almighty said at the beginning of Surat Al-Ma’idah “O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts.” [Al-Ma’idah 5:1]
 

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo awfoo bialAAuqoodi

Thus whomever is entrusted with a job with a wage or salary, he must fulfill his job perfectly in all means. If he didn’t, then he didn’t fulfill his entrusted task in a trustworthy manner.

3- Trust of Authority

Whoever, Allah Almighty, appoints in a position of authority over Muslims, he will be responsible for this trust. Did he apply the rules of Allah amongst them? Did he preserve the properties of the Muslims? Did he enjoin the good and forbid the evil? Did he employ the qualified personnel for the task? The Messenger of Allah showed us how this trust will be demolished, He said: "When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)" [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 

Moreover, we are responsible for everything that Allah entrusted us with, every one of us, like the minister to his ministry and the man to his family etc… The Messenger of Allah said, "Every one of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it." I heard that from Allah's Apostle and I think that the Prophet also said, "A man is a guardian of his father's property and is responsible for it, so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care." [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 

4- One of lost trusts of our days is keeping a secret, where someone is entrusted with a detail or info by his friend or any other person not wanting anyone to know of. Hence, it’s not allowed to reveal it or he would be considered a traitor of trust. Furthermore, the Prophet considered a person turning his head while talking a trust that his company should keep, not reveal it to others, because turning of the man implies that what he says must stay confidential. The Prophet said: If a Man tells something then turned (as if looking around) His talk is a trust. [Reported by Al-Tirmizi and classified as Hassan (good) by Al-Albani]
 

5- Issues between spouses are private matters of trust, spouses’ intimacy affairs are of the most confidential issues. There are intimate details between him and her that no one must know. Along these lines, if one of them betrays this trust revealing some of these details will be one of the most wicked of people in front of Allah Almighty at the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger of Allah highlighted that by saying: “The most wicked among people in the eye of Allah on the Day of judgment is the man who goes to his wife for intimacy and she comes to him for intimacy, and then he divulges her secret.” [Reported by Muslim]
 

Allah’s Messenger labeled it as a trust; rather it’s a severe trust in accordance with another narration by Imam Muslim also. The Prophet said: "One of the greatest trusts in the eye of Allah on the Day of Judgment is the man who goes to his wife for intimacy and she comes to him for intimacy, and then he divulges her secret." [Reported by Muslim]
 

It is not of Manhood to disclose the secret of one’s woman, like some foolish people do these days; rather manhood is keeping the secret entrusted to you without declaring.

6- Preserving what Allah Almighty granted us from his grace. Money is a blessing that we are entrusted with; it must be disposed in legitimate course that benefits the interest of the religion and worldly affairs. We are forbidden from wasting money, Allah Almighty said “and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess” [Al-A’raf 7:31]
 

Transliteration: wakuloo waishraboo wala tusrifoo innahu la yuhibbu almusrifeena

He also said defining his believing servants “And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate” [Al-Furqan 25:67]
 

Transliteration: Waallatheena itha anfaqoo lam yusrifoo walam yaqturoo wakana bayna thalika qawaman

Health is another blessing, so we are not allowed to direct it towards forbidden matters or risking it and expose the body to injuries by dealing with what causes this injury, like smoking, drug addiction, driving the car in high speed. Or any other harm that would lead to wasting the trust of health, rather, we are obliged to preserve this body because it’s the carrier of our souls, thus it’s a trust. Another blessing that is considered as a great trust is what Allah almighty facilitated of public utility. It is our duty to preserve it in a good condition instead of ravaging it. These streets, public buildings and public facilities have cost the state a lot of money, shouldn’t we – after all that – take care of this trust and teach our children to do so, so it could be reserved for us and generations to come? It’s a trust!!

7- The blessing of security

The safe atmosphere we live in and others are deprived from, didn’t Allah grant us a sacred safe sanctuary where others get disrupted communities from around us? Aren’t we supposed to observe this trust and blessing by preserving it? Did we preserve it by thanking Allah by our tongues and through our efforts, by obedience to Allah, neglecting polytheism and obey our rulers as in matters that please Allah. Security is a great trust and a significant blessing it is not valued properly until it is lost. We seek refuge to Allah from this day.

In the big picture, we will be questioned for all the blessings of Allah granted to us in the Day of Judgment, though did we preserve it? Did we realize it through thanking by our tongue and by effort? “Then you will surely be asked that Day about pleasure. [At-Takaathur 102:8]
 

Transliteration: Thumma latusalunna yawmaithin AAani alnnaAAeemi Thumma latusalunna yawmaithin AAani alnnaAAeemi

Allah Almighty has warranted us from being unjust to us “and never will I be unjust to the servants."” [Qaf 50:29]
 

Transliteration: wama ana bithallamin lilAAabeedi

And entrusted us with this trust, did we fear Allah in this trust? In Allah’s obedience, carrying out His and people’s rights all the success in this world and hereafter.

Trust is a grave matter that had been offered to the heavens, earth and the mountains but they refused it!! Allah Almighty said: “Indeed, we offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.” [Al-Ahzab 33:72]
 

Transliteration: Inna AAaradna alamanata AAala alssamawati waalardi waaljibali faabayna an yahmilnaha waashfaqna minha wahamalaha alinsanu innahu kana thalooman jahoolan

Whoever does not fulfill this trust he will be described as unjust and ignorant, on the other hand whoever rises up to the challenge and fulfills this trust not be described as so by the will of Allah.

Accordingly, we ask Allah The Great to guide us by fulfilling what he entrusted us with, and maintain our security, wealth, honor and All the other blessings he granted us, and support us to thank him and worship him in the finest manner, and have mercy over our parents as they cared for us in our childhood, and have mercy over our sheikhs, scholars, Kinship and all the Muslims. He is the answerer of our call. We praise Allah Lord of the Realms.


Translated by Wathakker.info website