99. Siddiq denotes someone who is utterly honest, someone whose devotion
to truth has reached a very high point. Such a person is always upright and
straightforward in his dealings. He supports nothing but right and justice and
does so with sincerity. He opposes whatever is contrary to truth, and does not
waver in his opposition to falsehood. His life is so unblemished and selfless
that even enemies, let alone friends, expect of him unadulterated probity and
justice.
The term shahid (pi. shuhada') means 'witness'. It signifies one who attests
to the truth of his faith with his whole life. He who lays down his life fighting
for God is called a shahid because by this sacrifice he confirms that his confession
of faith was backed by a deep, genuine conviction of its truth, and that he
valued it above his own life. The term shahid is also applied to those outstandingly
honest people who are so trustworthy that their testimony, on any matter, is
accepted without hesitation. Salih denotes one whose belief and thinking, motives
and intentions, words and deeds, are based on righteousness. In short, he is
a person whose life as a whole is oriented to righteousness.
100.He who enjoys, in this world, the company of the kind of people mentioned in this verse, and whom God judges worthy of the same company in the Hereafter is fortunate. The fact is that unless a man's natural sensitivity has atrophied, the companionship of corrupt and wicked people is a painful punishment even in this transient world, let alone that one should be subjected to the perpetual companionship of such people in the abiding life of the Hereafter. Good people have always longed for the company of like people, both in this world and the Next.