Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ALLAH

 DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yawm Arba'a. 29th day of Shaw'waal, 1445AH (Wednesday 8th May 2024). *_NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ALLAH_*. BismilLah.  Even though feelings of Panic, stress/worries etc are part of life, they must not reduce our acts of worship or trust in ALLAH. The more a man turns to ALLAH and focuses on HIM, the more he will feel a sense of peace and comfort, to an extent that no one knows except ALLAH. Hence those who know ALLAH, are close to HIM and fear HIM are the happiest of people, to such an extent that one of them said, in a well-known expression: “If the kings and the sons of kings knew what joy we have, they would fight us for it with the sword.” This is also what is expressed in the Qur’an, as ALLAH says: “Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him ALLAH will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and ALLAH will ...
Post a Comment
Read more

One of the question asked is can a Christian enter Jannah today?

 One of the question asked is can a Christian enter Jannah today? Alhamdulillah, it is clear from Quran and hadiths that any christian who dies believing Jesus is God or son of God and do not believe in prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him will enter hellfire. Allah says, Al-Ma'idah 5:17 They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent. Allah says, Al-Ma'idah 5:72 لَقَدۡ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَمَأۡوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُۖ وَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ أَنصَ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Friday and it's dignity.

 Friday and it's dignity. Alhamdulillah, Allah says, Al-Jumu'ah 62:9 يَآأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ O you who have believed, when [the adhān] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuʿah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allāh and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. Friday is the best day of the week because it was the day Adam was created, the day he entered paradise and the day he was removed from paradise. it was also the day he died and the hour(qiyaamah) will not come except on this day. Sahih. It was narrated from Aws bin Aws that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever washes (ghassala) and performs ghusl, comes early to the masjid and sits near the imam and does not engage in idle talk, he will have for every step he takes (the reward of) a year's worth of good deeds, fasting it and...
Post a Comment
Read more