The Evils of Lies

Kizb (Lies) is such an evil, that people belonging to every religion speak out against it. It is forbidden in every religion. Islam has placed great emphasis regarding abstaining from this. It has been condemned in numerous places in the Holy Qur'an, and the curse of Allah is upon those who tell lies. The evils of (lies) have also been mentioned in the Hadith Sharif. With regards to this, a few Ahadith are being presented.

Hadith 1: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) says,

"Make honesty essential (upon you), since truthfulness leads to good deeds and good deeds lead one towards the corridors of Jannat (Paradise). A man continuously speaks the truth and he continues to strive to be truthful, until by Allah, he is recorded as being a Siddique (Honest Person). Abstain from lies, for lies leads to corruption and corruption leads to the alleyway of hell, and man continuously tells lies and goes all-out to lie, until by Allah, he is recorded as being a Kazzab (Liar)". [Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Birr, Page 1405, Hadith 105/2607]

Hadith 2: It is in Tirmidhi from Hadrat Anas (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"The person who leaves telling lies, and it is futile (i.e. lies is something that one should leave), then a house will be erected for him on the perimeters of Jannat and whosoever abstains from disputing (quarrelling) even though he is on the truth, then a house will be erected for him in the middle of Jannat, and whosoever adorned himself with good character, then for him, a house will be erected in the elevated level of Jannat". [Jaami' Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr, Vol. 3, Page 400, Hadith 2000]

Hadith 3: It is in Tirmidhi from Ibn Umar (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"When a person tells lies, then through its foul odour, the Angels stay a mile away from him". [Jaami' Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr, Vol. 3, Page 392, Hadith 1979]

Hadith 4: Abu Dawud reported from Sufyan bin Usayd Hadrami (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) He says I heard Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) saying,

"To say something which is a lie to your Muslim brother, whereas he believes you to be telling the truth, is from amongst the things which are regarded as a breach of trust." [Sunan Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Adab, Vol. 4, Page 381, Hadith 4971]

Hadith 5: Imam Ahmad and Bayhaqi have reported from Abu Umaama (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"The nature of a Muslim can consist of all traits, except distrustfulness and lies." In other words, both these things are contrary to Imaan. It is very important for a Momin (true believer) to stay away from these (traits). [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 8, Page 276, Hadith 22232]

Hadith 6: Imam Maalik and Bayhaqi have reported from Safwaan bin Sulaym that the Prophet (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was asked,

"Can a believer be a coward?" He (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "Yes". It was then asked, "Can a believer be a miser?" He (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) replied, "Yes." He (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was asked, "Can a believer be a liar?" He (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "No." [Muwatta Imam Maalik, Kitab al-Kalaam, Vol. 2, Page 468, Hadith 1913]

Hadith 7: Imam Ahmad reported from Hadrat Abu Bakr (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"Abstain from lies, since (telling a) lie is contrary to Imaan." [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 1, Page 16, Hadith 22]

Hadith 8: Imam Ahmad reported from Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"A servant does not become a true believer unless he abstains from telling lies even when he is being humorous, and (unless) he does not abstain from quarrelling, even though he may be right". [Musnad Imam Ahmad, Vol. 3, Page 268, Hadith 8638]

Hadith 9: Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Daarimi have reported on the authority of Bahz bin Hakeem, from his father, who narrated from his grandfather that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"May he be devastated, who speaks and whilst doing so lies to amuse people (causing them to laugh). For him there is devastation! For him there is devastation!" [Jaami' Tirmidhi, Kitab az-Zuhd, Vol. 4, Page 142, Hadith 2322]

Hadith 10: Bayhaqi reported from Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"A person, who speaks only so that he could amuse people, falls into hell at depth which is greater than the distance between the sky and the earth. The amount of errors that are caused by the tongue, are far more than the errors caused by the foot". [Shu'ab al-Iman, Vol. 4, Page 213, Hadith 4832]

Hadith 11: Abu Dawud and Bayhaqi reported from Abdullah Ibn Aamir (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) who says "Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) was present in our home and my mother summoned me, (by saying), "Come, I will give you (something)". He (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "what do you intend giving him?" She said, "Dates". He (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"If you would not have given (him) anything, you would have been accountable for a lie being recorded for you." [Sunan Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Adab, Vol. 4, Page 387, Hadith 4991]

Hadith 12: Bayhaqi reported from Abu Burza (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"Telling lies causes the face to become black (dark) and tale bearing causes torment in the grave." [Shu'ab al-Iman, Vol. 4, Page 208, Hadith 4813]

Hadith 13: It is in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Umm-e-Kulthum (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"That person is not a liar, who brings peace between people, says good things, and delivers good words". In other words, he says good things on behalf of one person to another, even though that person did not say it. For example (he says), he has conveyed Salaam to you and he speaks highly of you. [Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Birr, Page 1404, Hadith 101/2605]

Hadith 14: Tirmidhi reported from Asma bint Yazid (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

"Lies is not correct (appropriate) except in three situations: (1) A man says something to please his wife; (2) to lie in a dispute; and (3) to lie with the intention of bringing peace between people". [Jaami' Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Birr, Vol. 3, Page 377, Hadith 1945]

Hadith 15: It is in Sahih Bukhari from Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam) says,

“There are four signs of a hypocrite and if someone possess one of them he has one sign of hypocrisy (until he abandons it): (1) Betrayal when trusted with something (amaanat), (2) Lying whilst speaking, (3) Breaking promises, (4) Swearing when involved in an argument.” [Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Page 17, Hadith 34]

— — —
Extracted from
Bahar-e-Shariat, Vol. 16, Chapter 24, Pages 304-307
Compiled by: Sadr al-Shariah Allamah Amjad Ali al-Aa'zami
Rendered into English by: Mawlana Aftab Qasim Qadiri Radawi