Some time ago, I read an interesting article about job interviews. In the article, it was mentioned that an interviewer once asked a candidate, “If faced with two choices,responsibility or honesty,which would you choose?” This question might seem simple, but its answer is surprisingly profound and meaningful.
Most people in such a situation would likely choose responsibility. After all, responsibility is often seen as a critical quality in the workplace. Responsible individuals are viewed as trustworthy and capable of completing their tasks effectively. However, as I continued reading, I discovered that the correct answer should actually be honesty.
Why? Because honesty is the foundation of everything, including responsibility. Honesty is the cornerstone of trust-building,whether with colleagues, supervisors, or clients. Without honesty, responsibility becomes hollow.
I once made a mistake when preparing a report that significantly impacted an important company decision. At the time, I felt anxious and even considered blaming other factors or ignoring the issue. However, I chose to be honest and admitted my mistake to my supervisor. I braced myself for the consequences, but to my surprise, their response was far more positive than I had imagined. They appreciated my honesty, and together, we worked on a solution to fix the error. That experience taught me that admitting mistakes honestly builds greater trust than trying to hide them.
This principle also applies when providing feedback to coworkers or supervisors. If we’re not honest and only say what they want to hear, they might feel happy but won’t gain an accurate picture of the situation. Consequently, they miss opportunities to grow. On the other hand, if we deliver our honest opinions respectfully and thoughtfully, it helps them understand the situation better and become more effective in their work.
In business, too, honesty holds more value than the product itself. For example, imagine a seller promoting their product as top-quality when, in reality, it’s subpar. It’s inevitable that customers will turn away. Building trust begins with genuine honesty. While honesty may sometimes hurt, isn’t that better than offering a sugarcoated lie?
Many people hide their mistakes, whether by concealing them or, worse, shifting the blame onto others. Instead of blaming others, isn’t it better to speak the truth?
Are honest people also responsible? The answer to this might not always be clear-cut. From what I’ve observed, honest people are often responsible, but responsible people aren’t necessarily honest. For instance, a student who submits an assignment on time but copies from someone else may appear responsible. However, their act of cheating demonstrates dishonesty, which doesn’t feel the same as someone who genuinely works with integrity.
In Islam, honesty is a highly emphasized virtue. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Be honest, for honesty leads to goodness, and goodness leads to paradise. A person who continues to be honest will be recorded with Allah as a truthful one.”
(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
This hadith teaches us that honesty not only brings goodness to the world but also draws us closer to Allah’s pleasure and His paradise. In everyday life, being honest simplifies matters and brings blessings to our work, relationships, and responsibilities.
However, it’s undeniable that honesty has become increasingly rare in today’s world. We often hear that finding intelligent people is easier than finding honest ones. Yet honesty is a noble trait highly esteemed in Islam, exemplified by the Prophet’s trustworthiness.
It’s disheartening to see so many corruption cases involving high-ranking officials in our country,people who seemingly have everything. Logically speaking, they already have power, wealth, and comfort. So what makes them feel insufficient? Is it the desire for more recognition? Or are they driven by unchecked greed? I don’t know the answer, but it’s clear that gratitude is often the forgotten key.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever is not stastified with a little will never be stastified with much.” (HR. Ahmad)
It’s like drinking from the ocean,no matter how much we take, the water seems infinite.
Reflecting on this, I sometimes long to return to the innocence of childhood,when we were pure, honest, and free from excessive worldly ambitions. Children have pure hearts, untainted by deceit or ill intentions. Perhaps we need to learn from them how to live with honesty and gratitude, without getting caught up in the endless race for more than we truly need.
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