Sometimes in life, we find it challenging to choose a way when its truthfulness and honesty on one hand and success or immediate reward on the other. The way of falsehood always seems like a shortcut to success. Most of us get deceived by the glare of falsehood and somehow forget the path of truthfulness and honesty. Being a Muslim, Islam guides you to follow the straight path of honesty. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was the most honest and truthful. Have you ever come across such a situation? Or did it challenging to choose between truthfulness, honesty, and the shortcut? The following story will make it clear to you that truthfulness and honesty pay a reward.
Once there was an emperor, he decided to choose his successor during the last days of his life. Instead of choosing his children or assistants, he chose someone else. One day he summoned young people into the kingdom. He told them it was time to leave his position and choose the next Emperor. He informed them that I wanted to choose the next Emperor amongst you.
Importance Of Truthfulness And Honesty:
All the people were shocked. Emperor said today, and I am going to give you a seed. An exceptional and essential seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back to me after one year and inform me what you have grown from that tiny seed. I will judge you based on that plant. Then I will choose the next Emperor based on that plant.
A boy named Ling was also there amongst the youngsters. Like everyone else, he also received a seed from the Emperor. He went back to his home and told his mother the whole story. His mother helped him to plant the seed. He planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After some weeks, Ling heard from his fellows that their seeds and plants were beginning to grow.
Ling noticed his seed, but there was no improvement in the seed. In fact, after five weeks, there was still no improvement in seed growth. He told his fellows that the seed had become a big plant, but Ling felt he had failed. Six months passed by but still nothing in Ling’s pot. He was afraid that he had killed his seed.
Everyone else had tall plants and trees, but Ling had nothing. Ling said nothing to his fellows, however. He was waiting for his seed to grow.
Truthfulness And Honesty Are Always Fruitful:
A year passed, and all the youths of the kingdom showed their plants to the Emperor for examination. Ling told his mother he would not show the Emperor his empty pot. His mother insisted he goes there. Ling felt sick, but he was sure his mother was saying true. He went there and was shocked to see the varieties of plants. They were beautiful in all sizes and shapes. Everyone laughed at Ling’s empty pot. Some showed their sympathies and said, “hey, nice try.”
When the Emperor reached there, he inspected the room and met the young people. Ling just tried to hide. Emperor said. “My, what great trees, flowers, and plants you have grown.”Today, I will choose the next Emperor amongst you. Suddenly, the Emperor spotted Ling with his empty pot at the back of the room. He asked his assistants to bring him to the front. Ling was afraid. He thought that might be Emperor would order him to kill me.
When Ling went to the front, the Emperor asked him his name. He said, “My name is Ling,” he responded. All the people were laughing and making fun of him. The Emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling and then announced to the crowd, “He is your new Emperor! His name is Ling!” Ling was amazed. Ling couldn’t even grow his seed. How could he be the new Emperor? The Emperor said I summoned you all a year ago and gave you a seed. I had ordered you to plant the seed and water it carefully.
Moral:
Based on this, I will choose a new emperor. But you all cheated me except Ling. Because one year ago I gave you the boiled seed. You all went to your homes and planted the seed, but when you noticed that seed was not growing, you replaced the seed with a new seed except Ling. Today you all brought here flowering plants and trees except Ling. In the end, you all cheated except Ling. Ling was the only one with the honesty and courage to bring me a pot with my seed. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Emperor!”
The Prophet (SAW) said about the truthfulness,
“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps telling the truth until he becomes truthful. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e., wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 8:116]
