Bermuda may suffer from trusting hypocrites

The Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessing from Allah be upon him) said “Hypocrites are known by three characteristics: If he talks he lies, if he promises he fails to keep his promise, and if he is trusted in any matter he proves to be untrustworthy”.

I’m sure we all know a hypocrite. 

A hypocrite says one thing and does another. 

In Bermuda, not too long ago the people were told some lies and now we may suffer from the effects of trusting untrustworthy folks. 

Really, how do you know a man, but by his words and if his word is not bound –– what a worthless creature is he. 

If one does not fulfill a promise then one has lied, and, if you don’t deliver what you are trusted with then you have lied. 

When you lie to someone, you mislead them, causing them to take your words to be the truth so they act upon your words –– only to be deceived  

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was well-known among his people for honesty before his prophethood and used to be called “al-ameen” (the trustworthy). 

Trustworthy

This is a name that would not be given except to one who was extremely truthful, trustworthy and upright. 

So trustworthy was he that when he had to leave Makka to go to Medina, he had many things that people entrusted him with, and due to his trustworthiness he asked Ali his son-in-law, to return these items to their original owners as he could not do it himself because his life was in danger. 

Ali too being trustworthy risked his own life and stayed behind to fulfill the Prophet’s trust. 

So, trust is a serious responsibility and is not to be taken lightly.

Therefore when those in positions of trust speak, their words and promises must be carried out, if indeed they respect the people and fear God. 

Allah Almighty asks us to fulfill every promise, for every promise will be enquired into, on the day of reckoning. 

Allah also says, “O ye who believe! Why do you say that which you do not mean? Disdainful is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which you do not mean”. 

The Prophet (pbuh) said “fulfill your trust if your trusted with something, and tell the truth when you talk”. 

He also said, “If one tells a lie, the angels stay a mile away from him for the rotten act committed.” 

From that, we derive that lying has a rotten stench! 

I’m sure you have heard the expression “a rotten lie!” 

My mother-in-law, Ina Lodge, used to always say, “that’s a lie from the pit” and we all know a pit stinks.

So let us refrain from lying and untrustworthiness –– let us have a referendum on gambling. 

Give the people the opportunity to be heard as they were promised.

I know of families that are going through some hard times right now. 

In fact I was in civil court last week, and was saddened to see the amount of elderly people who for the first time in their lives are unable to pay their bills.

 They are finding themselves in front of the courts; one man was 82 years old –– how sad. 

This is surely a sign of the times we are living in. 

But remember, Bermuda, Allah says that “after the struggle comes the ease, after the struggle comes the ease.” 

And surely God’s promise is true. 

Man will let us down most of the time, and that is why our belief must be in Allah.

The Noble Quran, 9:51 says, “Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector. In Allah let the Believers put their trust.” Ameen.