Is lying prohibited in Islam?

 Is lying prohibited in Islam?

It is well known and established among all Muslims that lying is prohibited in all cases ; in fact, the reprehensible nature of telling lies and the prohibition thereon is something on which all religions agree, and the aversion to lying is something that is deeply rooted in sound human nature, no matter what religion a person follows.

What is required of the Muslim is to be truthful in his speech in all situations.

Allah, may He be Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

{O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.} [At-Tawbah 9:119]

`Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man may continue to speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a speaker of truth. Lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to Hell. A man may continue to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 6094 and Muslim, 2607)

`Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There are four characteristics, whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy, until he gives it up: when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he breaks it; and when he disputes, he resorts to foul speech.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 34 and Muslim, 58)

The prohibition on telling lies when joking

 The prohibition on telling lies when joking is proven in the Sunnah:

Bahz ibn Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: My father told me that his father said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Woe to the one who speaks and tells lies in order to make the people laugh; woe to him, woe to him.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 4990; classed as sound by Al-Albani in Sahih Abu Dawud, 4990)

It is also encouraged to refrain from lying when joking:

Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I guarantee a palace on the outskirts of Paradise for one who refrains from arguing even if he is in the right, and a house in the middle of Paradise for one who refrains from lying even when he is joking, and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who makes his attitude good.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 4800; classed as sound by Al-Albani in Silsilat Al-Ahadith As-Sahihah, no. 273)

 `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It is not right to lie in earnest or in jest, or for any one of you to promise something to his child then not fulfil that promise. (Narrated by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, 387)

Kinds of joking in Islam

Joking, whether it is based on truth or lies , has many scenarios:

When the joke is based on truth, and there is no lying involved

The basic principle regarding this kind of joking is that it is permissible, if it is done from time to time and the individual is not joking most of the time, and it does not lead to obvious mischief.

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“The scholars said: The kind of joking that is not allowed is when one goes to extremes in joking and persists in that, for it provokes laughter, leads to hardheartedness, and distracts people from remembering Allah, may He be Exalted, and from focusing on their religious duties. In many cases, it also leads to causing offence and development of grudges, and it undermines dignity and respect. As for joking that is free of such elements, that is what is permissible, and that is what the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to do. He (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) only used to do that on rare occasions, when it served a purpose, or to comfort the one addressed and put him at ease. There is nothing wrong with that at all; rather it is Sunnah and is encouraged, if it is of this type.” (Al-Adhkar,  p. 377)

When the joke is based on a lie

This type of joking is prohibited, as seen in the Hadith of Bahz ibn Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him) quoted above.