Author: Fazeelat al-Sheikh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hamad (Hafidhahullah)
"After you, there will come people who will betray trusts and will not be considered trustworthy."
— [Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Shahadat: 2651]
Betraying trust is a grave sin in Islam and a sign of hypocrisy. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"One of the signs of a hypocrite is betrayal of trust."
— [Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman: 33]
The Prophet ﷺ also identified the dwellers of Hellfire and mentioned that a person driven by greed and prone to betrayal, even in trivial matters, will be among them.
— [Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jannah: 7207]
Allah Almighty commands in the Quran:
"O you who believe! Do not betray Allah and His Messenger, nor betray the trusts that have been entrusted to you knowingly."
— [Surah Al-Anfal: 27]
Stealing or misusing someone’s money or property entrusted to you is a form of betrayal.
✿ Revealing Secrets:
Divulging confidential information or secrets that were entrusted to you is a serious act of betrayal.
✿ Husband and Wife Privacy:
Sharing private matters between spouses with others, which Allah has veiled, is another form of betrayal.
✿ Misusing Authority:
Taking undue advantage of one’s position or power is considered a severe type of betrayal.
✿ Neglecting Responsibilities:
Failing to properly raise one’s children or students is a significant act of betrayal.
"When someone considers you trustworthy and entrusts something to you, return it to them at the appropriate time. However, if someone betrays you, do not reciprocate their betrayal."
— [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Buyoo: 1264]
"Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due."
— [Surah An-Nisa: 58]
Hadith Reference
إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَخُونُونَ وَلَا يُؤْتَمَنُونَ"After you, there will come people who will betray trusts and will not be considered trustworthy."
— [Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Shahadat: 2651]
Key Points
❀ Betrayal as a Serious Crime:Betraying trust is a grave sin in Islam and a sign of hypocrisy. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
"One of the signs of a hypocrite is betrayal of trust."
— [Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman: 33]
The Prophet ﷺ also identified the dwellers of Hellfire and mentioned that a person driven by greed and prone to betrayal, even in trivial matters, will be among them.
— [Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Jannah: 7207]
Allah Almighty commands in the Quran:
"O you who believe! Do not betray Allah and His Messenger, nor betray the trusts that have been entrusted to you knowingly."
— [Surah Al-Anfal: 27]
Types of Betrayal
✿ Misappropriating Wealth:Stealing or misusing someone’s money or property entrusted to you is a form of betrayal.
✿ Revealing Secrets:
Divulging confidential information or secrets that were entrusted to you is a serious act of betrayal.
✿ Husband and Wife Privacy:
Sharing private matters between spouses with others, which Allah has veiled, is another form of betrayal.
✿ Misusing Authority:
Taking undue advantage of one’s position or power is considered a severe type of betrayal.
✿ Neglecting Responsibilities:
Failing to properly raise one’s children or students is a significant act of betrayal.
Guidance from the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ provided clear instructions regarding trust:"When someone considers you trustworthy and entrusts something to you, return it to them at the appropriate time. However, if someone betrays you, do not reciprocate their betrayal."
— [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Buyoo: 1264]
Quranic Commandment
Allah explicitly commands believers to fulfill trusts and hand them over to their rightful owners:"Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due."
— [Surah An-Nisa: 58]