Our loving religion, Islam and beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us each and everything about life and the whole structure of life that how we should spend our lives and how we should solve any problem in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, being a Muslim we need to understand Quran and Sunnah and try to implement them in our life for spending a happy and comfortable life. Lying is considered to be a big sin in our religion, Islam. Allah says:
إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward. (Surah Al-Isra 17:9)
Lying is a sin that is classified among the greatest sins. Lies are things that are prohibited in Islam. All Muslims should avoid doing lies within act and talk. Lying in public to get praise or kindness from the community is a very blameworthy act. A liar is mean-spirited since he is notorious for falsehood in the sight of Allaah.
How To Stop This Sin In Our Daily Life?
First of all concern yourself with Quran and Sunnah, perform Namaz five times with punctuality, teach your children about the side effects of lying, tell them about verses and Hadees about lying. Commit to Allah that you will not lie again and will follow the teachings of Muhammad (PBUH). Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ
“O you who believe! Be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the true ones.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:119)
You can also go for online Quran classes, al Quran Digital and home Quran classes that will give you benefits and will help you understand the Quran and Sunnah in a better way.
Lying and falsehood are widespread problems, following are some reasons:
- Liar puts himself on a slippery slope to hellfire
- Lying is against human nature and physiology
- Liars have no time for them to think or reflect
- Liar is the ones who harm the religion most
- Liars moths are attracted to an open flame
- Lying provide to get a false certificate
- Lies often roll off the human tongue
- Lying has many faces in our society
- Lying has its signs and symptoms
- Liar tells a lie for cheating
- Liar tells a lie to deceive
- Lying is a disease of the heart
- Lying produces inner conflicts
- Lying is the opposite of the truth
- Liars suffer from a mental disorder
- Liar enjoying their misery like Satan
- Lying is against human nature and physiology
- Lying is a common part of human relationships
- Lying is a despicable vice, rampant in our societies
- Lying leads to deviance and deviance leads to the Fire
There is no haven for a liar in the realm of Islam. The act of lying is one of the major indicators of a hypocrite. Lying falls under the umbrella of falsehood and evil. It’s like a disease that manifests into various harmful symptoms which causes damage to the individual telling the lies and the people around him. The worst possible type of lying is to fabricate information regarding Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (PBUH). Allah says:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُم مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ
Say, “Have you seen what Allah has sent down for you of (the) provision, and you have made of it unlawful and lawful?” Say, “Has Allah permitted [to] you, or against Allah, you invent (lies)?” (Surah Yunus, 10:59)
Islam discourages the person who lies and lying is prohibited in our beloved religion Islam. It is a fact that lying leads to inner turmoil and chaos. It topples our inner balance. It festers the soul of the individual and continues to taint the soul as many times as the individual engages in lying. Getting into the habit of lying can become toxic for the individual and those around him. Evil and sinful acts such as cheating, deceiving, fraud, forgery, etc. are essentially all carried out by liars.
Why tell the truth?
Because the truthful are most beloved by Allah (SWT) Almighty. Telling the truth is one of the core foundations of what Islam stands on. Allah (SWT) prohibits lying and implores us to choose righteousness and truthfulness above all else in several places in the Quran: Allah says:
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ
“In their hearts (is) a disease so has increased them Allah (in) disease, and for them (is) a punishment painful because they used to [they] lie.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:10)
Even though lying seems like an easy way out of our problems sometimes and we tend to justify our white lies, thinking we wouldn’t have to suffer the consequences in our daily lives, be it at home or our workplace or anywhere for that matter. However, what we tend to overlook is the consequences of lying may not be dire in this world but they will be in the Hereafter. Allah says:
قَالُوا مَا أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنزَلَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ
“They said, “Not you (are) but human beings like us, and not have revealed the Most Gracious anything. Not you (are) but lying.” (Surah Ya-Sin 36:15 )
If you find yourself having told a lie and you feel guilty- that is also a blessing, for there are people who become such avid liars that they no longer feel the guilt of their sins and actions. Being able to feel guilt for our sins is also a blessing from Allah. Allah says:
فَمَنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
“Then whoever fabricates about Allah [the] lie after that, then those – they (are) the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:94 )
Hence, take that opportunity and repent. Repent with all your heart to the Almighty. Allah (SWT) is All-forgiving and All-Merciful. He is the forgiver of sins and the bestower of endless mercy. It is never too late to repent for your sins- Allah is always listening. Allah says:
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا وَمَا نَحْنُ لَهُ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
“Not (is) he but a man who (has) invented about Allah a lie, and not we (in) him (are) believers.” (Surah Al-Muminun 23:38)
Lying can never lead to any good. None. So beware of it and make a conscious effort to not engage in it. Allah (SWT) knows it is not always easy, but perhaps that is why His reward will be double fold for the ones who choose truthfulness in this life.
Why Do We Lie?
- To save ourselves from embarrassment
- To protect our body or possessions
- To preserve the status quo
- To preserve our image
- To avoid further inquiry
- To avoid conflict
- To keep a secret
- To hide the truth
- To inflate our ego
- To get what we want
- To hide our feelings
- To avoid responsibility
- To justify our behaviour
- To manipulate someone
- To make a fool of someone
- To get back at someone who has lied to us
The Quran on Telling the Truth
Allah commands us to be true and mentions it in over one hundred places in the Quran. Truthfulness is the quality of a believer. As a Muslim do honesty in words and deeds. Please, be honest in words and deeds as well as our heads and bodies. That way, we are included in the peoples who brings the truth. Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
Say, “Indeed those who invent against Allah the lie, they will not succeed.” (Surah Yunus 10:69)
Falsehood leads to wickedness, which is the deviation from the straightforward path, which in turn leads to the Fire of Hell, and woe to the denizens of Hell. Every kind of lie and every method of speaking an untruth is Harām. Just as it is Harām to speak a lie with the tongue it is similarly Harām to write something false.
The Quran Condemns Lying
“…Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.” (Quran 40:28)
A lie is something baseless, unreal, made-up, distorted or it can be an exaggeration. Lying is forbidden in Islam and condemned by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Islam has also made man’s testimony a method for proving rights. When we choose to lie, we choose to suffer. Think how much better off we’d be if we would stop lying and live in the truth.
Here are some facts about lying:
- Lying and cheating can lead to creativity
- Lying is an embellishment of Satan’s hands
- Lying is a sin and a transgression
- Lying in Email vs Pen and Paper
- Lying is one of the greatest sins
- Liars Use Fewer, Smaller Words
- Lying is poles apart from belief
- Lying Doesn’t Come Naturally
- Lying Is Bad For Your Health
- Lying is a sign of a hypocrite
- Lying causes forgetfulness
- People Lie More In Writing
- Lying is the worst of sins
- Lying is an evil and a sin
- Lying is disbelief (kufr)
- The Liar is accursed
- Lies everyone tells daily
- The liar is not a believer
- The Angels abhor the liars
- Terrible punishment for the liars
- Things You Should Know About Liars
- The worst earning of a man is a falsehood
- The liar is kept away from truth and reality
- The sin of lying is worse than drinking wine
- The liar is doomed because of the lies that he utters
- The liar does not deserve friendship and brotherhood
If faith is the foundation of honesty, on the contrary lying is the foundation of badness (hypocrite). In a verse in the Quran, it is explained that someone honest will benefit from the truth. While people who lie will only get losses and get a worse reply from Allah Almighty. Allah says:
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ
“And who (is) more unjust than (he) who invents against Allah a lie or rejects His Signs? Indeed, not will be successful the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-An`am 6:21 )
A Muslim can lie to protect his life, wealth and honour; and it is compulsory to lie to protect another Muslim’s life, wealth and honour. No one can make a habit of lying and give the excuse that Islam encourages us to lie to save our honour and the honour of others.
Quranic verses denounce lying Allah the Almighty says in the Quran:
- “…and avoid false words.” (Surah Hajj 22:30)
- “That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth…” (Quran 33:24)
- “And pray for the curse of Allah on the liars” (Surah Ali- Imran 3:61)
- “And Allah does not guide the unjust people.” (Sura al-Jumu’a’ 62:5)
- “… and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars.” (Surah Al- Imrān 3:61)
- “O you who have believed! Fear Allah and speak the truth.” (Quran 33:70)
- “… the curse of Allah be on him if he is one of the liars.” (Surah an-Nūr 24:8)
- “…the curse of Allah be upon him if he should be among the liars.” (Quran 24:7)
- “…Indeed Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.” (Quran 40:28)
- “…Surely Allah does not guide him who is extravagant, a liar.” (Surah Ghāfir, 40:34)
- “…surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:3)
- “And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].” (Quran 2:42)
A Muslim’s oath can replace evidence, under certain circumstances. and is therefore decisive in settling disputes. Being truthful is an endearing quality that we all would be blessed to attain in our lifetime and is a commodity that is becoming more scarce in this world as the hands of time relentlessly spin round and round. Be very cautious and extremely careful while making comments about a person in his absence. Allah says:
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
“And (do) not say for that which assert your tongues, the lie, “This (is) lawful and this (is) forbidden,” so that you invent about Allah the lie. Indeed, those who invent about Allah the lie, they will not succeed.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:116)
Liars also manufacture false evidence to support their lies. Thus, the believers need to examine carefully all of the evidence presented to them by people of questionable faith so that they can avoid making decisions based on first appearances. Indeed, Ya`qub (as) knew his sons very well because of the wisdom, insight, and intuition arising from his faith, and so he was not deceived by their false evidence. He realized that they had done something wicked, despite their weeping and their self-justifications.
