.....Being Honest and Straightforward in Islam.. Candor......
Candor
Our pure religion appreciates counsel to the extent that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The Deen (religion) is [offering] sincere advice." Thus has Islam nurtured its followers to speak the truth, even if it may be bitter, and to be frank with everyone. Linguistically, candor refers to the quality of being honest and straightforward. Some scholars have defined it as “portraying one’s inner self without distortion or evasion, in a way that expresses ideas clearly, so that one’s deeds match his [or her] words.” [Al-Khuluq Al-Kaamil, by Muhammad Ahmad Jaad Al-Mawla, may Allaah have mercy upon him]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, fostered forthrightness in his Companions. Before giving the pledge at Al-‘Aqabah, Abu Al-Haytham ibn At-Tayyihaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allaah! There are ties between us and others [i.e., the Jews], which we shall sever. If we do this and Allaah grants you victory, will you return to your own people and leave us?” The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, smiled and replied, “No, this would never be the case. Blood is [for] blood and destruction [for] destruction [meaning, that he would avenge for the death of any of them and that if their life becomes violable, his life be rendered such as well]. You are of me and I am from you; I shall fight whoever you fight and conciliate with whoever you make peace." He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, neither became angry, nor did he object to or rebuke the man for his frankness. Rather, he appreciated this quality in him, which should encourage the rest of us to possess it, as well.
Similarly, when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, led the Companions in a prayer which consisted of four units, of which he only offered two, Thul-Yadayn, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked, with due courtesy, veneration and candidness: “O Messenger of Allaah, did you forget or was the prayer shortened?” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied, “I neither overlooked [anything] nor was it made short.” Thereupon, the Companions frankly replied, “No, Messenger of Allaah, you did forget." He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then, did not reproach them or feel embarrassed; rather, he then completed his prayer and performed the prostration of forgetfulness. Will the public figures today endure the candor of their followers like the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam?
In another incident, when it was announced that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, permitted the assassination of ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool, leader of the hypocrites, the son of that man – the great Companion, ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool, may Allaah be pleased with him – came to him, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: "O Messenger of Allaah, I have been told that you want to eliminate my father because of what has been reported to you concerning him. If you are going to [proceed with that], command me to do it and I will bring you his head. By Allaah, [the tribe of] Al-Khazraj knows that there has never been among them a man more dutiful to his father than I. I am afraid that you may order someone else, who may kill him; then, I will not be able to look at the assassin of my father walking among the people. Hence, I may then kill him, thus killing a believer to avenge a disbeliever; and in doing so, [I know] I would enter Hell.’ So, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then suggested, “No [leave that]; we will be gentle with him and associate with him on friendly terms as long as he remains among us."