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.