Lies and their consequences

In a famous hadith, our Prophet Mohammad, Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon him, says: “There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he does not fulfil it, and when he is trusted he betrays.”

Human society is made up of people possessing many different character traits. However, what everyone should appreciate in a person is truthfulness and an abhorrence for lies. Indeed, the speaking of the truth and the telling of lies are two opposing traits by which a person's character and state of mind may be judged.

Truthfulness builds a person’s integrity, strengthens his spiritual wellbeing, grants him high social acceptance and trustworthiness and will be rewarded by Allah, both in this world and in the Hereafter.

Lying is the sign of a serious defect in a person's character. Falsehoods and lies contain no spirituality and have no place in the Sight of Allah. Those who perpetrate them build a corrupt world around themselves, only acceptable to people of a similar nature, and will come to realise how shallow and false their lives and social status are.

Telling lies is one of the cardinal sins in Islam. Sadly, many people pay scant attention to the lies they have uttered to serve their immediate ends, but later attempt to justify their actions by quoting a higher purpose. But, lies in all their forms can destroy the lives of other people. They tarnish the integrity of others and can ruin their characters. Lies are the mother of all injustice and many wrongdoings are committed as a result of them.

Whether a lie is large or small, black or white, it is not allowed, no matter what purpose it is intended to serve. In a hadith, when the Prophet was asked by his wife, ummul mumineen Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, saying: “O Messenger of Allah! If a woman desires for something but says she doesn’t, would that be counted as a lie?” The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him said: “Lies are recorded and if that is a petty lie that would be recorded as a petty lie,”

This tells us that all lies, big or small, are recorded and will affect the integrity of a person, both in the sight of Allah and in that of his peers. If petty lies continue to accumulate they symbolise a hypocritical way of life and may result in the removal of blessings and happiness from a person's life.

In another hadith, the Prophet Mohammad elaborates this point with a more precise wording. He says: “Leave what is doubtful to what is not. Because truth is the (complete) state of happiness and lie is doubtfulness’.

Uttering lies, therefore, creates a false and doubtful personality whereby the liar, inevitably, can never achieve a blissful life but will bear the effects of his lies in his daily life.

When it comes to a person who is a believer in Allah, his belief (imaan) should never allow a lie if his belief is true. The Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, said when he was asked: “Would a believer be coward?” He replied: “Yes.” Then he was asked: “Would a believer be a miser?” He replied: “Yes.” But, when he was asked: “Would a believer be a liar?” He replied saying: “No.”

Therefore it is totally unacceptable for a true believer to lie. Telling lies repeatedly leads to further falsehoods, fabrication and false witness. These, in their turn, will stunt the spiritual development of a believer and here we further see why they are called 'the mother of all wrongdoing'.

The Quranic guidance leaves no doubt as to the importance of being truthful. It says in Sura 9 V119: “O believers! Have the fear of Allah and be among those who are truthful.”

Both truth and lies affect the life of a person in both worlds and whether it will be rewarding or chastising depends on which path a person chooses.

In another hadith, the Prophet, peace and mercy of Allah be upon him, says: 'Truth leads to righteousness (righteous character) and righteousness leads to Paradise. A person pursues truth (in his life) till he was recorded with Allah as a truthful person, (but) lies lead to unrighteous character and hence unrighteousness leads to Hell. A person pursues lies (in his life) till he is recorded with Allah as liar.”  

Lies are accountable by Allah and no amount of ‘noble’ purposes' can ever justify a lie. But, in the greater purpose of Allah's scheme for his creation and in the competition of this life people don’t hesitate to lie or bear false witness because that is what ‘Iblis’ or Shaytan promised to Allah. A lie is spoken even when the truth is unintentionally missed.

In another hadith the Prophet says: “It is enough a lie for a man to narrate (or speak about) everything he hears’.  People need to seek out for truth and verify it before they speak. Unfortunately, lies have become part of a repertoire of clever tricks employed by many people and are now seen as a necessary skill by which they may advance their development, rather than resorting to the truth. Sadly, and increasingly, we observe that even so called practising people of faith are twisting their words and becoming part of this false world.

Any person with any sense of integrity and accountability to Allah will choose to be truthful. Lies can never be part of His life as they have no place in the spheres of spiritual development or proximity to Paradise.