Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Lying and Deception: Difference between revisions

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Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Lying and Deception (view source)

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More balance (language, additional Quran verses and hadiths)
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(Much better balance and language in line with the Taqiyyah article, deleted irrelevant and misinterpreted material (including the marital consent stuff which just describes what "some people" said, unclear who they are supposed to be).)
(More balance (language, additional Quran verses and hadiths))
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{{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}}
{{QuranHadithScholarsIndex}}


Lying in general, as well as in specific situations such as commercial transactions is condemned in various hadiths, and the Qur'an condemns various groups for (allegedly) lying about Allah and Muhammad. Lying is generally also considered a sin for believers and truthfulness a virtue by Islamic jurists, though certain exceptions are permitted. The tradition records Muhammad lying on a number of occasions when it served his purpose, particularly when it came to warfare. Such was his fondness for the tactic that there are two instances of [[sahih]] hadith recording his saying: "war is deceit." This is of course a strategem of war that has been employed across the ages and cultures of the world. Hadiths also record him sometimes [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Muhammad and Oaths|break an oath]] and expiating for doing so when a better option had presented itself. In addition, Allah himself is recorded as being "the best deceiver" in contrast to the plotting of the disbelievers, and leading those he disapproves of to the fire; in fact, according to the doctrine of [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Predestination|qadr]] all those who go to hell are deliberately decieved by Allah into this final doom.  
Lying in general, as well as in specific situations such as commercial transactions is condemned in various hadiths, and the Qur'an tells believers to shun liars, to not bear false witness, and condemns various groups for (allegedly) lying about Allah and Muhammad. Lying is generally also considered a sin for believers and truthfulness a virtue by Islamic jurists, though certain exceptions are permitted.  
 
A famous hadith states, "Telling of truth is a virtue and virtue leads to Paradise and the servant who endeavours to tell the truth is recorded as truthful, and lie is obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the servant who endeavours to tell a lie is recorded as a liar.".
 
The tradition does however record Muhammad allowing a companion to lie in order to assassinate Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf. When it came to warfare hadiths recording his saying: "war is deceit." This is of course a strategem of war that has been employed across the ages and cultures of the world. The Quran calls Allah al-Haqq (The Truth, e.g. {{Quran|22|6}}), though some consider this ironic as Allah himself is recorded as being "the best deceiver" when he rescued Muhammad from the plotting of the disbelievers, and as leading those he disapproves of to the fire; in fact, according to the doctrine of [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Predestination|qadr]] all those who go to hell are deliberately decieved by Allah into this final doom. A few verses permit believers to hide their faith when under threat. This was of great use a few centuries later when Shia Muslims were persecuted by the Abbasids. However, it has never been understood as a general dispensation to lie (see [[Taqiyya]]).


==Qur'an==
==Qur'an==
===Shun lying speech===
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|30}}|That (is the command). And whoso magnifieth the sacred things of Allah, it will be well for him in the sight of his Lord. The cattle are lawful unto you save that which hath been told you. So shun the filth of idols, and shun lying speech}}
===Do not testify to falsehood===
{{Quote|{{Quran|25|72}}|And [they are] those who do not testify to falsehood, and when they pass near ill speech, they pass by with dignity.}}
===Believers are the truthful===
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|17}}|The steadfast, and the truthful, and the obedient, those who spend (and hoard not), those who pray for pardon in the watches of the night.}}


===Allah===
===Allah===
===="Best Deceiver"====
===="Best Deceiver"====


Contrasting Allah's military plotting with that of the disbelievers, the Qur'an states in a few verses that Allah is the "best deceiver", for more info on this idea see: [[Allah the Best Deceiver]].<nowiki></ref></nowiki>
Contrasting Allah's plotting with that of the disbelievers when he rescued Muhammad from them, the Qur'an states in a few verses that Allah is the "best deceiver", for more info on this idea see: [[Allah the Best Deceiver]].<nowiki></ref></nowiki>


{{quote |{{Qtt|3|54}}|
{{quote |{{Qtt|3|54}}|
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The words "in some cases" of the above verse are not present in the original Arabic text. So this verse could even be giving Muslims a carte blanche to break oaths.
The words "in some cases" of the above verse are not present in the original Arabic text. So this verse could even be giving Muslims a carte blanche to break oaths.


===Taqiyya (hiding faith to preserve life)===
===Hiding faith when under threat===
<i>Main article, [[Taqiyya]]</i>
<i>Main article, [[Taqiyya]]</i>


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{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|71|662}}| Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: Two men came from the East and addressed the people who wondered at their eloquent speeches. On that '''Allah's Apostle said 'Some eloquent speech is as effective as magic'''.'}}
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|71|662}}| Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: Two men came from the East and addressed the people who wondered at their eloquent speeches. On that '''Allah's Apostle said 'Some eloquent speech is as effective as magic'''.'}}


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|147}}|Narrated Sahl bin Sad As-Sa'idi: ...Allah's Apostle said, "A man may seem to the people as if he were practising the deeds of the people of Paradise while in fact he is from the people of the Hell) Fire, '''another may seem to the people as if he were practicing the deeds of the people of Hell (Fire), while in fact he is from the people of Paradise'''."}}
====Forged speech invalidates fasting====
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|31|127|Narrated Abu Huraira:


====Peace-making====
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"}}


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|49|857}}|Narrated Um Kulthum bint Uqba:
====Lying, breaking promises and betrayal are signs of a hypocrite====


That she heard Allah's Apostle saying, "'''He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar'''."}}
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|73|117|Narrated Abu Huraira:


====Breaking Oaths when there is something better====
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; and whenever he promises, he breaks his promise; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays (proves to be dishonest)".}}


In Sahih Bukhari we find narrations telling us Prophet Muhammad had said if he took an oath and later found something else better, he would do "what is better" and expiate his oath.
====Only truthful transactions are blessed by Allah but not if they lie or conceal anything====


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|67|427}}|
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|34|293}}|Narrated Hakim bin Hizam:


Narrated Zahdam:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The seller and the buyer have the right to keep or return goods as long as they have not parted or till they part; and if both the parties spoke the truth and described the defects and qualities (of the goods), then they would be blessed in their transaction, and if they told lies or hid something, then the blessings of their transaction would be lost."}}


We were in the company of Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari and there were friendly relations between us and this tribe of Jarm. Abu Musa was presented with a dish containing chicken. Among the people there was sitting a red-faced man who did not come near the food. Abu Musa said (to him), "Come on (and eat), for I have seen Allah's Apostle eating of it (i.e. chicken)." He said, "I have seen it eating something (dirty) and since then I have disliked it, and have taken an oath that I shall not eat it ' Abu Musa said, "Come on, I will tell you (or narrate to you). Once I went to Allah s Apostle with a group of Al-Ash'ariyin, and met him while he was angry, distributing some camels of Rakat. We asked for mounts but he took an oath that he would not give us any mounts, and added, 'I have nothing to mount you on' In the meantime some camels of booty were brought to Allah's Apostle and he asked twice, 'Where are Al-Ash'ariyin?" So he gave us five white camels with big humps. We stayed for a short while (after we had covered a little distance), and then I said to my companions, "Allah's Apostle has forgotten his oath. By Allah, if we do not remind Allah's Apostle of his oath, we will never be successful." So we returned to the Prophet and said, '''"O Allah's Apostle! We asked you for mounts, but you took an oath that you would not give us any mounts; we think that you have forgotten your oath.'''' He said, 'It is Allah Who has given you mounts. '''By Allah, and Allah willing, if I take an oath and later find something else better than that. then I do what is better and expiate my oath.'''' "}}
====Peace-making====


{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|89|260}}|
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|49|857}}|Narrated Um Kulthum bint Uqba:
Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samura:


The Prophet said, "O 'Abdur-Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking (for it), then you will be helped (by Allah) in it. '''If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.'''"}}
That she heard Allah's Apostle saying, "'''He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar'''."}}


====War is Deceit====
====War is Deceit====
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====Truthfulness is a virtue, and lying is a sin that leads to hellfire====
====Truthfulness is a virtue, and lying is a sin that leads to hellfire====


{{Quote|{{Muslim|32|6308}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|32|6308}}|


'Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
'Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:


Telling of truth is a virtue and virtue leads to Paradise and the servant who endeavours to tell the truth is recorded as truthful, and lie is obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the servant who endeavours to tell a lie is recorded as a liar. Ibn Abu Shaiba reported this from Allah's Apostle (ﷺ).}}
Telling of truth is a virtue and virtue leads to Paradise and the servant who endeavours to tell the truth is recorded as truthful, and lie is obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the servant who endeavours to tell a lie is recorded as a liar. Ibn Abu Shaiba reported this from Allah's Apostle (ﷺ).}}
====Only truthful transactions are blessed by Allah but not if they lie or conceal anything====
{{Quote|{{Muslim|10|3661}}|Hakim b. Hazim (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
Both parties in a business transaction have the right to annul it so long as they have not separated; and if they speak the truth and make everything clear they will be blessed in their transaction; but if they tell a lie and conceal anything the blessing on their transaction will be blotted out.}}


====Three cases do not count as lying====
====Three cases do not count as lying====


{{Quote|<!-- http://searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=the+words+of+the+husband+to+his+wife&translator=2&search=1&book=&start http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsearchtruth.com%2FsearchHadith.php%3Fkeyword%3Dthe%2Bwords%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bhusband%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bwife%26translator%3D2%26search%3D1%26book%3D%26start&date=2012-02-25 -->{{Muslim|32|6303}}|Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf reported that his mother Umm Kulthum daughter of 'Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and she was one amongst the first emigrants who pledged allegiance to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him), as saying that she heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: '''A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he conveys good'''. Ibn Shihab said he did not hear that exemption was granted in anything what the people speak as lie but in three cases: '''in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the narration of the words of the husband to his wife, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband''' (in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them).}}
{{Quote|<!-- http://searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=the+words+of+the+husband+to+his+wife&translator=2&search=1&book=&start http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsearchtruth.com%2FsearchHadith.php%3Fkeyword%3Dthe%2Bwords%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bhusband%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bwife%26translator%3D2%26search%3D1%26book%3D%26start&date=2012-02-25 -->{{Muslim|32|6303}}|Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf reported that his mother Umm Kulthum daughter of 'Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and she was one amongst the first emigrants who pledged allegiance to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him), as saying that she heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: '''A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he conveys good'''. Ibn Shihab said he did not hear that exemption was granted in anything what the people speak as lie but in three cases: '''in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the narration of the words of the husband to his wife, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband''' (in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them).}}
See also: [[Qur%27an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Lying_and_Deception#It.27s_not_lawful_to_lie_except_in_3_cases_.28that_cover_too_much.29]] (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 4:25:1939)
====Breaking Oaths when there is something better====
In addition to Sahih Bukhari, we find many more narrations in Sahih Muslim concerning the breaking of oaths when doing so is better.
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4044}}|
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported: I came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) along with a group of Ash'arites requesting to give us a mount. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with a mount, and there is nothing with me which I should give you as a ride. He (the narrator) said: We stayed there as long as Allah willed. Then there were brought to him (to the Holy Prophet) camels. He (the Holy Prophet) then ordered to give us three white humped camels, We started and said (or some of us said to the others): Allah will not bless us. We came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) begging him to provide us with riding camels. He swore that he could not provide us with a mount, but later on he provided us with that. They (some of the Prophet's Companions) came and informed him about this (rankling of theirs), whereupon he said: It was not I who provided you with a mount, but Allah has provided you with that. '''So far as I am concerned, by Allah, if He so wills, I would not swear, but if, later on, I would see better than it, I (would break the vow) and expiate it and do that which is better.'''|}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4052}}|
Abu Huraira reported: A person sat late in the night with Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him), and then came to his family and found that his children had gone to sleep. His wife brought food for him. but he took an oath that he would not eat because of his children (having gone to sleep without food) He then gave precedence (of breaking the vow and then expiating it) and ate the food He then came to Allah s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and made mention of that to him, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: '''He who took an oath and (later on) found something better than that should do that, and expiate for (breaking) his vow.'''|}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4053}}|
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: '''He who took an oath and then found another thing better than (this) should expiate for the oath (broken) by him and do (the better thing).'''|}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4054}}|
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: '''He who took an oath and (later on) found another thing better than that, he should do that which is better, and expiate for the vow (broken by him).'''|}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4055}}|
This hadith is narrated on the authority of Suhail with the same chain of transmitters (with these words): "He should expiate for (breaking) the vow and do that which is better."|}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4058}}|
'Adi reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: '''When anyone amongst you takes an oath, but he finds (something) better than that he should expiate (the breaking of the oath), and do that which is better.'''|}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4062}}|
Abd al-Rahman b. Samura reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Abd al-Rahman b. Samura, don't ask for authority for if it is granted to you for asking for it, you would be commissioned for it (without having the support of Allah), but if you are granted it without your asking for it. You would be helped (by Allah) in it. '''And when you take an oath and find something else better than that, expiate for (breaking) your oath, and do that which is better. This hadith has also been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Farrukh.'''}}


====Assassinating an enemy====
====Assassinating an enemy====
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