“A Truth Used for Falsehood”: Lessons from the Arbitration at Ṣiffīn

Introduction

On the 13^th of Ṣafar in the year 37 AH, a pivotal moment in Islamic history occurred: the episode of arbitration (ḥukmiyyah) during the Battle of Ṣiffīn. In this event, a deceptive tactic by ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ led to a temporary ceasefire that shifted the political landscape. When some of Imam ʿAlī’s own followers rejected his decision to accept arbitration by claiming “No judgement but God’s”, Imam ʿAlī (peace be upon him) responded with a sharp and insightful phrase that has echoed through history. He exposed how truth can be manipulated to serve false purposes, a danger as real today as it was then:

قال أمير المؤمنين (ع): «كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ يُرَادُ بِهَا بَاطِلٌ» (نهج البلاغة، خطبة ٤٠)

Imam ʿAlī (peace be upon him) said: “A word of truth by which falsehood is intended.”

Educational Lessons of This Hadith for Teenagers and Youth

1. Don’t Use Religion for Personal Gain

Using religious words for selfish purposes weakens your sincerity and misleads others.

Challenge: Ask yourself before using any religious phrase: Am I doing this for truth or just to appear right or gain something?

2. Your Words Matter Deeply

What you say shapes how others think, feel, and act; so take your words seriously.

Challenge: This week, choose your words more carefully in one conversation that really matters at school, online, or at home.

3. Intention Shapes Meaning

The same sentence can bring good or harm depending on the intention behind it.

Challenge: Before you speak, pause for a moment and ask: Why am I really saying this?

4. Don’t Be Fooled by Religious Slogans

Just because something sounds Islamic doesn’t mean it is right.

Challenge: Before sharing a religious quote online, research its context and meaning.

5. Think Before You Follow

Following loud voices without critical thinking can lead to dangerous paths.

Challenge: When someone claims to speak “in the name of Islam,” ask: What’s their goal?

6. Learn the Spirit Behind the Text

Islam is more than words; it is about justice, mercy, and wisdom.

Challenge: Choose one verse or hadith this week and reflect on how it applies in real life, not just literally.

Educational Lessons of This Hadith for Parents

1. Teach Your Children to Analyse Language and Intention

Children need help learning how to spot the real meaning and motives behind words.

Challenge: Choose a recent news item, social media post, or slogan and discuss with your children what it says, what it means, and why it might have been said.

2. Teach Children to Recognise Misused Truths

Your children will face slogans that twist Islamic values; prepare them early.

Challenge: Use one news story or social media post this week to talk to your children about misused religious language.

3. Model Integrity, Not Appearances

Truth in action matters more than quoting truth in words.

Challenge: Let your children see you make one honest, difficult decision this week.

4. Explain That Not All “Islamic” Is Truly Islamic

Blind repetition of phrases doesn’t equal faith.

Challenge: Share a time from your life when you or someone else misunderstood a religious idea; and what you learned from it.

Educational Lessons of This Hadith for Imams and Religious Leaders

1. Address Misuse of Religion Clearly

People need guidance to distinguish truth from manipulation.

Challenge: Devote part of this week’s khutbah to explaining how religious language can be used for political or personal gain.

2. Revive Contextual Understanding

Teach the community to interpret Islam with depth and context.

Challenge: In your next class or sermon, show how a well-known verse or phrase has been misapplied; and then explain its correct meaning.

3. Encourage Moral Discernment

Faith is not about slogans; it’s about seeing right from wrong in complex situations.

Challenge: Organise a discussion group or Q&A where young people can ask openly about confusing or misused Islamic terms.