It’s just a “little white lie”…..So what if you exaggerate a little on your resume, you lead someone to believe that you make a little more money than you actually earn, or maybe you omit something that you should tell a potential spouse during the nikah (wedding) arrangements. These are all considered by many to be insignificant little lies. However, little lies can and do add up and accumulate. Then, when the truth is revealed, it all comes crashing down destroying friendships, ripping apart families, and ruining careers…..and all that is just in THIS WORLD! Let’s not forget that lying is a sin and a sign of hypocrisy in Islam (and most other religions as well).
So, why is it so hard to tell the truth? Why do we feel compelled to lie? I guess we could chalk that up to human nature. We all want to please others and be pleased. Sometimes the truth hurts. Some people have such low self esteem that they think they need to lie to build themselves up and impress others. When, in actuality, the old adage of “be yourself” really is the best way to be! So cliche, I know. But…..it’s true!
So, anyway, I found this article written by Shaykh Ibrahim Dremali (a regular lecturer at www.sunnahfollowers.net) and thought that I would pass it on.
Al Khadhib-Lying
Written by Dr. Ibrahim Dremali | |
Sunday, 09 July 2006 | |
Lying, where it is not allowed (and there are only a few exceptions where it is allowed) is a heinous sin and puts one in grave danger of corruption, hypocrisy and even kufr. It is a “slippery slope” to all manner of corruption and a character flaw from which it is difficult to return. Fellow Muslims, search within yourself and rid yourself of all forms of lying, deception and falsehood. Make sure that truthfulness is victorious over falsehood in your heart at all times. Allah does not guide one who is a liar. Allah said:
One of the worst forms of lying in which a Muslim can engage is to be phony about his/her Islam. Al-Hassan Al-Basri, an early taabi’i, was a famous waa’idh (preacher) who could bring large numbers of people to tears in moments. No one doubted his piety buy himself. He used to go to his home every night after doing whatever good Allah knows for Islam and tremble in fear that his actions may not measure up to his words. He did this in true contemplation and understanding of Allah’s statement:
The worst forms of lying is to tell lies (or speak without knowledge) about Allah, His Messenger and His Message (Islam). The source of this knowledge is Allah (via the Qur’an) and His Messenger (via the athentic hadith). There is no other route to this knowledge and the knowledge was sent by Allah is is being preserved by Allah. Al-hamdu lillahi! The knowledge is there for the seeking until yaumil Qiyaama. The previous nations did not get this. There were put in charge of preserving their messages and they lost them all. Allah himself took charge of preserving the message of Islam – even if that was actually carried out by human means. Allah said:
This includes lying about Allah’s laws (the shari’a) and speaking about what is halal and what is haram without authentic knowledge from Allah and/or from His Messenger (sas). Allah said:
In addition to lying about Allah being one of the greatest sins and a cause of punishment in the hereafter, in the above verses, we see that:
Lying about Allah’s creation is also a major sin and a source of many kinds of corruption, division and strife.
Adh-dhann
transmitting everything you hear
Lying leads to further corruption and even hell-fire
A munaafiq is one whose apparent external reality is Islam, belief, practice of Islam, etc. but whose inner reality is disbelief and eveil intent toward Islam and the Muslims. It is NOT simply “hypocrisy” (which covers many things which are not “nifaq”) and that is a very inadequate and misleading of the term. The character flaw possessed by a munaafiq is called “nifaaq”. Nifaaq negates Islam even if one is “practicing” in the apparent
These hadith clearly tell us that lying or truthfulness are character traits. They are habit-forming, are “slippery slopes” and are not something that any human can turn on and off at will. One who is a liar to people will also be a liar to Allah and vice versa. That is why a Muslim must take utmost precaution and steps against ANY form of lying, deception or falsehood whether with/about Allah or with/about people. Malik ibn Deenaar said: “As-sidqu wa al-kadhibu ya’tarikaani fiy al-qalbi hattaa yukhrija ahaduhumaa saahibahu.” “Truthfulness and lying are in combat in the heart until one of them expels the other.” Lying is one of the weaknesses of the nafs and one of the wrong things to which it becomes attracted. Luqman is reported to have said to his son: “Yaa bunayya iyaaka wa al-kadhibi fa innahu shahiyyun ka lahmi al-‘usfoori ‘ammaa qaleelun yaqlaaho saahibuhu.” “Dear son, beware of lying for it is surely attractive like the meat of a quail which its owner is just about to pluck off and eat.” It is never beneficial, even if it appears to be so in the short run. Ash-Sha’biy said: “Iyaaka wa al-kadhiba haitha taraa annahu yanfa’uka fa huwa yadhurruka.” “Beware of lying. Whenever you think it will benefit you, it only harms you.” |
Also check out these posts from Javeria’s blog!
Living without lying – why we lie?
http://javeria.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/living-without-lying-why-we-lie
Living without lying – why we should not lie
http://javeria.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/living-without-lying-2/
Ah yes, but you conveniently skirt around the edges of Al-Takeyya. That one lone concept in Islam that prevents any non-Muslim from fully trusting anything that a Muslim says.
How far does “protection against” go?
I didn’t write the article. If you have questions you can direct them to the website that i have provided (www.dremali.com)
Salam ‘alaik UmmYusuf,
I miss you!…been visiting ur blog almost everyday, waiting patiently for your latest blog 🙂
Jazakillah khairan sister for an interesting post which is also an ever close subject in our hearts. I think everyone of us had at least one time lied and said its only a white lie…but a lie is never white and pure. A lie is a lie. Fullstop.
*hugs*
Ah, OK – sorry.
Happy New Year to you and your family, dear Sister 🙂 May Allah bless you all with health, happiness, and ever increasing love and wisdom. Ameen.
Ya Haqq!
@jonolan
The concept of Al-Takayea you are asking about is actually a concept greatly prevalent and discussed in a heretic sect of Islam – The Shia’s.
The concept is not in the authentic orthodox Islam.
@ um yusuf
JazakAllahu khair for referring us to a nice article.
I wrote two blog posts about lying and why we lie and received some interesting feedback…
you might find it relevant to your blog post.
Living without lying – why we lie?
Living without lying – why we should not lie
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu Javeria,
JazakAllahu Khairan!!!
Asalaamu alikum,
Jazak’allah khair Umm Yusuf for sharing this post on such a deep topic.
May Allah us all the strength and sincerity to to stay away from lying in today’s deceptive world.
One quote came to mind, which I would like to share:
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” -Mark Twain.
Don’t be sad
As Salaamu Alaikum Sis:
Mash’Allah, great post. So, good to be back and reading them.
🙂
jonolan,
lying is permitted in 3 cases:
lying to your spouse in a case like this: “does this dress make me look fat?” you can say yes even you think otherwise, it is not considered a sin.
lying to settle disagreements: for example if two brothers stop speaking to each other. you can say to them that the other said he loves you and wants to have a good relationship, when in fact he didnt say that.
war: for example if you are captured and interrogated, they ask you where your base is, it is permissible to lie.
fastaqim,
This I understand as being written in the Qur’an. I cannot fault your statement, but this is also written in the Qur’an:
This is the basis for Al-Takeyya. It’s sad implications are that when dealing with Muslims, an Infidel must keep in mind that Muslims can swear something with apparent sincerity, when in reality they have just the opposite goal in their hearts. Islam permits Muslims to lie anytime that they perceive that their own well-being, or that of Islam, is threatened.
“Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliya (supporters, helpers, etc.) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allah is the final return.”
No Muslim who has a little knowledge about their religion believes what you just said. Of course, Islam allows us to chose the lesser evil when we have to. We have absolutely nothing to hide, but if there are people going around attacking Muslims then it becomes permissible for us to hide our beliefs.
I don’t know how you can say that since I was quoting an approved English translation of Surah 3:28. It is possible though that Al-Takeyya is more of a Shiite phenomenon.
Sorry, I apologize, I have been much neglectful on this blog. I would just like to tell anyone that if you have Islamic questions it is best to visit a local masjid and ask the imam/shaykh there. Or go to a respected Shaykh/Imam’s site and ask your questions.
I’m not a scholar. I’m not even a student. I’m just posting these things here as a reminder to myself first and then to everyone else. 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will continue to visit!
Thanks
Umm Yusuf