The Reward of Truthfulness

Introduction: A Simple Shepherd with a Big Heart

Once during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA), a remarkable event took place that taught people a timeless lesson about honesty and the fear of Allah. Hazrat Umar (RA), the second caliph of Islam, was known for his justice and his habit of roaming the streets at night to ensure the well-being of his people.

One day, he came across a young shepherd tending his master’s sheep in the outskirts of Madinah. This shepherd was not famous, wealthy, or educated. He was just an ordinary slave boy working for his master. But what happened in this encounter made him one of the most respected people in Islamic history.


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The Test: A Tempting Offer

Hazrat Umar (RA), disguised as an ordinary man, approached the boy and said:

> “Will you sell me one of these sheep? I am hungry and would like to cook some meat.”



The shepherd replied, “These sheep are not mine. They belong to my master.”

Hazrat Umar (RA) decided to test the boy’s honesty. He said:

> “You could easily tell your master that a wolf came and took one of the sheep, or that it got lost. He would never know.”



The boy looked down for a moment, then raised his head with confidence and replied:

> “My master may not see, but Allah is always watching.”



These simple words pierced the heart of Hazrat Umar (RA). He was deeply moved by the boy’s unwavering honesty and strong belief in Allah.


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The Lesson: Taqwa and Imaan

The boy could have lied and earned a temporary benefit. He could have sold the sheep and made some money, and no one would have known. But he remembered Allah’s presence and His knowledge of all things, and that was enough to stop him from doing anything wrong.

This is called Taqwa – the fear of Allah even when no one else is watching. True taqwa is not shown in public where people can see your good deeds. It is shown in secret, in the dark corners where only your heart and Allah are witnesses.

The shepherd’s response showed that he had true Imaan (faith). His heart was connected to Allah, and his conscience was alive.


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The Reward: A Life Changed Forever

Hazrat Umar (RA) immediately went to the market, bought the boy from his master, and then set him free.

Not only that, but he also rewarded him generously for his honesty and sincerity.

Hazrat Umar (RA) then announced the incident in the mosque and told people:

> “This is how a true believer should behave. If a poor shepherd, who is a slave, can fear Allah in the middle of a desert, then we have no excuse to disobey Allah in our daily lives.”




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The Message: Allah Sees Everything

This story reminds us that Allah is always watching, even when no one else is. We can hide our actions from people, but we can never hide them from Allah. The shepherd boy understood this deeply, and that understanding changed his life.

Honesty is not just about telling the truth to others. It’s about being true to your own heart and to Allah.

When we are honest and faithful, Allah opens doors that we could never imagine. He can take a poor slave and turn him into a hero of Islamic history.


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Conclusion: Be Like the Shepherd

We live in a time when people often lie, cheat, and hide things just to get a little profit or fame. But the story of the shepherd shows us that truthfulness is more valuable than gold.

Let us be among those who speak the truth, who remember Allah in secret, and who never betray the trust placed upon them.

Because, in the end, the reward of truthfulness is not just in this world, but in the hereafter, where Allah promises:

> “Verily, Allah is with those who are truthful.”
(Surah At-Tawbah, 9:119)