Lying: an Islamic perspective

What is Lying?
Lying is the complete opposite of truth. So, anything that is untrue
and deliberately intended to mislead another person is a lie. A lie,
therefore, can be anything spoken or written that is totally or
partially baseless, unreal, made-up, distorted or exaggerated; for
example, if someone were to deliberately state that a five foot pole
was a ten foot pole, then this would be a lie. Similarly praising
someone out of proportion is a form of a lie.
Lying: A Disease of the Heart
Lying and falsehood are widespread problems and are roots of other
problems that occur on an individual and public level. Lies are spoken
and writtenin the media and in politics, in business and in personal
dealings, by Muslims and non-Muslims alike, although the degree,
magnitude and frequencymay vary.
Lying is against human nature and physiology, and like any other
disease, it has its own unique signs and symptoms. The act of lying
produces inner conflicts between various controlcentres of the brain.
The momentone begins to lie, his body sends out contradictory signals
to cause facial muscle twitching, expansion and contraction of pupils,
perspiration, flushing of cheeks, increased blinking of the eye,
tremors of the hand, and an increased heart rate. These constitute the
basis of lie detector instruments. In addition, certain unconsciously
made movements are noticeable in those who lie, like the constant
covering of the mouth, touching of the nose, rubbing of the eye,
scratching the side of theneck, rubbing the ear, etc. One of the
clearest signs is that the liar keeps his palms closed and his eyes in
another direction to the person he is lying to, in an attempt to avoid
eye to eye contact. A liar is aware of his body's signals and finds
lying easier when nobody can see him, such as when he is on the phone
or writing.
What are the Motives of a Liar?
A liar tells a lie for the purpose of:
a) Concealing the truth, as he may be afraid of the truth or its
punitive consequences by the lawor certain individuals.
b) Cheating and deceiving others and enjoying their misery, as Satan
did with Aadam.
c) Short-term worldly gains, such as gaining the favours of others or
monetary gains.
Forms of Lying
The worst form of lying is to do so upon Allaah and His Messenger
which is to falsely attribute things to them. Allaah Almighty Says in
the Quran (what means): "And if he [i.e., Muhammad] had made up about
Us some [false] sayings, We would have seized bythe right hand; then
We would have cut from him the aorta " [Quran 69:44-46]
And (what means): "…And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals
it – his heart is indeed sinful…." [Quran 2:283]
And (what means): "And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal
the truth while you know[it]." [Quran 2:42]
Hypocrites are liars too, because they lie to themselves. Allaah
Saysabout them (what means): "In their hearts is disease, so Allaah
has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment
because they [habitually] used to lie." [Quran 2:10] Allaah also
addressed His Messenger Muhammad Saying (what means): "…Allaah knows
that you are His Messenger, and Allaah testifies that the hypocrites
are liars." [Quran 63: 1]
The Quran on Liars
Allaah Says (what means): "…Indeed Allaah does not guide one who is a
transgressor and a liar." [Quran 40:28]
And (what means): "…Indeed, Allaah does not guide he who is aliar and
[confirmed] disbeliever." [Quran 39:3]
Almighty Allaah also Says (what means): "…The curse of Allaah be upon
him if he should be among the liars." [Quran 24:7]
The Messenger on Lying and Liars
Prophet Muhammad said:
"Indeed, truth leads to virtue andvirtue leads to Paradise, and a
truthful person continues to speak the truth until he becomes the most
truthful person. Lies lead to evil and evil leads to Hell, and a liar
continues to lie until heis listed as a high ranking liar before
Allaah." [Al-Bukhaari]
Yoosuf Ibn 'Abdullaah said that he asked Prophet Muhammad : "O
Messenger of Allaah! What do you think is the most dreadful thing for
me?" Yoosuf continued: "The Messenger caught hold of his tongue and
said: "This." [At-Tirmithi]
Bahz Ibn Hakeem related that theMessenger said: "Destruction is for
the man who tells lies for the amusement of other people. Destruction
is for him." [At-Tirmithi]
Sufyaan Ibn Usayd reported that the Messenger said: "The biggest
breach of trust is that you tell a thing to your brother who believes
it to be true, whereas you have lied to him." [Abu Daawood]
Is Lying Ever Justified?
There are very few justifications for lying in Islam. The Prophet
directed us to tell the truth, even under the harshest circumstances
of oppression. However, one may choose not to tell the truth when:
* He is being oppressed and thereis a real danger to his life if he
speaks the truth. Shaykh As-Sa'di narrated the following story:"A
cruel king ordered an innocentvillager present in his court to be
executed due to the villager's lack of manners. Hearing this,
thevillager began cursing the king in his native language. The king
asked his minister, who understood the man's language, to tell him
what the man was saying. The wise minister, insteadof telling the
truth, told the king that the man was sorry for his conduct and was
praising his greatness and pleading for his mercy. The king was
affected andtherefore spared the life of the innocent villager."
Shaykh As-Sa'di called this: "A lie with wisdom."
* To promote harmony between spouses. For example, if one's wife asks
him if she is beautiful or if he loves her, there is no harm in
answering in the affirmative, even if this is not the case.
* While making peace between two quarrelling parties, so that the
ordeal would not ignite into something worse. The mediator in such a
case may falsely tell oneparty that the other is speaking highly of
them.
* To make the unbelievers realise the truth. When Prophet Ibraaheem
broke all the idols except the largest of them, the unbelievers
entered the temple and saw the smashed idols. Ibraaheem had placed the
axe in the hand of the chief idol. The disbelievers asked:"Who broke
our gods?" He said: "Ask the chief idol, he has the axe." They
replied: "Do you not know that he cannot speak or act?" Ibraaheem
replied:"This is what I have been telling you, so worship Allaah
rather than these stones that cannot harm or profit you."
Virtues of Telling the Truth
Truthfulness is commanded by Allaah as a part of faith and is an
indispensable quality of the believers. It is mentioned in over one
hundred places in the Quran. Some examples are when Allaah Almighty
Says (what means): "That Allaah may reward the truthful for their
truth…" [Quran 33:24]
"O you who have believed! Fear Allaah and be with those who aretrue."
[Quran 9:119]
"O you who have believed! Fear Allaah and speak words of appropriate
justice." [Quran 33:70]
"The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of
Allaah], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn." [Quran 3:17]
"The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allaah and His
Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and
their lives in the cause of Allaah. It is those who are the truthful."
[Quran 49:15]
It is not necessary to relate any prophetic traditions about the
truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad as his whole life was nothing but the
epitome of truth. Prophet Muhammad was confirmed as a truthful person
even before he became a Prophet. During his prophethood,even his
enemies confirmed that he was truthful and trustworthy. Some of the
disbelievers would deposit their belongings with him as an indication
of their trustin him.