Authored by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✿ Selling by Lying is Forbidden in Islam
Lying or swearing falsely in trade is strictly impermissible. Such behavior not only constitutes a grave sin but also eradicates the blessings from one’s business.
❶ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“(False) oaths may sell the goods, but they destroy the blessings.”
[Bukhari: 2087, Book of Trade: Chapter on Allah Erases Interest and Increases Charity]
❷ The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“ثلاثة لا يكلمهم الله يوم القيامة ولا ينظر إليهم ولا يزكيهم ولهم عذاب أليم والـمـنـفـق سلعته بالحلف الكاذب”
“There are three types of people with whom Allah will neither speak on the Day of Judgment, nor look at them, nor purify them, and they will have a painful punishment. One of them is the person who sells his goods by swearing falsely.”
[Muslim: 154, Book of Faith: Chapter on the Severity of the Prohibition of Letting the Garment Hang Low and Reminding Others of Charitable Gifts]
❸ Hazrat Abdur Rahman Shibl (رضي الله عنه) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) say:
“إن التجار هــم الفجار ، قالوا: يا رسول الله أليس قد أحل الله البيع؟ قال: بلى ، ولكنهم يحلفون فيأثمون ، ويحدثون فيكذبون”
“Indeed, traders are sinful people.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, has Allah not made trade lawful?” He said, “Yes, but they swear and commit sin, and when they speak, they lie.”
[Sahih: Sahih al-Targhib: 1786, Book of Trade: Chapter on Encouraging Traders to Speak the Truth; Ahmad: 4/428–444; Al-Hakim: 6/2]
❹ It is narrated from Hazrat Wasilah bin Asqa’ (رضي الله عنه):
“كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخرج إلينا وكنا تجارا و كان يقول يا معشر التجار إياكم و الكذب”
“The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to come out to us when we were engaged in trade, and he would say, ‘O group of traders! Beware of lying.’”
[Sahih li ghayrihi: Sahih al-Targhib: 1793, Book of Trade: Chapter on Encouraging Traders to Speak the Truth; Reported by Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir with an acceptable chain]
❺ It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abi Awfa (رضي الله عنه):
“أن رجلا أقام سلعة وهو فى السوق ، فحلف بالله لقد أعطى بها مالم يعط ليوقع فيها رجلا من المسلمين ، فنزلت: ”إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا“ [آل عمران: 77]”
“A man once displayed a product in the market and swore by Allah that he had already been offered a certain price for it—when in reality, he had not. His intention was to deceive a Muslim. Upon this, the following verse was revealed:
‘Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a small price…’
[Bukhari: 2088, Book of Trade: Chapter on the Dislike of Swearing in Trade]
Summary:
Truthfulness is a fundamental principle in Islamic trade. The habit of lying or swearing falsely to sell products is condemned in strong terms in multiple Hadiths. Such acts not only strip away the barakah (blessing) from wealth but also invoke the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment. Traders must uphold honesty and integrity in all their dealings.
