Position of Islam Regarding Lies And Liars

Allah Almighty tells about the source of lying inside the brain of humans, fourteen hundred years ago. Allah tells us how He will deal with the liars, the lying sinful liars, in surah Al Alaq. (chpater 96).

"Allah will grab him by the (naseyah) [frontal lobe of the brain], the lying sinful (naseyah).

How could anyone have imagined 1,400 years ago, the frontal lobe of the brain was the source of lying, agression and transgression? Yet, this is decribed in Quran as the exact location inside of the human mind for these horrible characteristics.

We can say, without doubt that, lying is one of the most evil characteristics, of which all religions and systems of ethics warn against and which man's innate common sense (Fitrah) agrees that it is wrong. Any who possess normal chivalry and sound reason would be obliged to same the same.

Truthfulness is one of the pillars on which the moral survival of the world depends. It is the foundation of praiseworthy characteristics, the foundation of prophethood, the result of taqwah. Were it not for truthfulness, the rulings of all divinely-revealed laws would collapse. Acquiring the characteristic of lying is akin to shedding one's humanity, because speaking is an exclusively human trait.

(Bareeqah Mahmoodiyyah, Muhammad al-Khaadimi, 3/183)

Our purely monotheistic Shari'ah warns against lying in the Quran and Sunnah, and there is consensus that it is haram. The liar will have bad consequences in this world and in the next.

According to Shari'ah, lying is not permitted except in specific cases which do not lead to loss of rights, bloodshed or slander of people's honor, etc., but which concern saving lives, reconciling between people, or creating love between husband and wife.

There is a never a day or a moment when Shari'ah permits a person to tell lies or to say whatever he wants based on lies. One of the things that have become widespread among the common people is the so called "April Fool's Day", where they claim that the first day of the fourth solar month is a day when lying is permitted without being subject to any shari'ah guidelines.

Many bad things may result from this, some of which we will mention below.

The prohibition of lying.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"It is only those who believe not in the Ayah (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, who fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are liars."

[al-Nahl 16:105]

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust."

(Narrated by al-Bukhari, 33; Muslim, 59)

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Say: ‘Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah will never be successful'"

[Yunus 10:69]

It was narrated that ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Do not tell lies about me. Whoever tells lies about me, let him enter the Fire.'"

(Narrated by al-Bukhari, 106).

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever tells lies about me, let him take his place in Hell."

(narrated by al-Bukhari, 110; Muslim, 3).

And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‘O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety'

[al-Ma'idah 5:8]."

Lying in buying and selling. 

It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection and He will not look at them or praise them, and they will have a painful torment." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) repeated this three times. Abu Dharr said: "May they be doomed and lost, who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "The one who lets his garment hang below his ankles, the one who reminds others of his favors, and the one who disposes of his goods by swearing a false oath." 

(Narrated by Muslim, 106)

The punishment for lying:

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"So He punished them by putting hypocrisy into their hearts till the Day whereon they shall meet Him, because they broke that (covenant with Allah) which they had promised to Him and because they used to tell lies

[al-Tawbah 9:77]