Preferring truth over falsehood despite consequences

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 458

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 458

Preferring truth over falsehood despite consequences
1 Ḥadīth
Ḥadīth 580

٤٥٨. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): (عَلَامَةُ) الْإِيمَانُ أَنْ تُؤثِرَ الصِّدْقَ حَيْثُ يَضُرُّكَ عَلَى الْكَذِبِ حَيْثُ يَنْفَعُكَ، وَأَلَّا يَكُونَ فِي حَديِثِكَ فَضْلٌ عَنْ عِلْمِكَ وَأَنْ تَتَّقِيَ اللهَ فِي حَدِيثِ غَيْرِكَ.

458. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: Belief means that you should prefer truth (even) when it harms you rather than falsehood (even) when it benefits you; that your words should not be more than your action and that you should fear Allāh when speaking about others.