Avoiding Exaggeration While Giving Testimony
By: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
While giving testimony, one must avoid exaggeration and should state only what one truly knows.
As narrated from Abū Mūsā (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ once heard a man praising another excessively, exaggerating in his commendation. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Ahlaktum – aw qaṭaʿtum – ẓahr al-rajul.”
“You have ruined him—or (he ﷺ said)—you have broken the man’s back.”
[al-Bukhārī: 2663, Kitāb al-Shahādāt: Bāb mā yukrahu min al-iṭnāb fī al-madḥ wa li-yaqul mā yaʿlam]
This shows that exaggeration in testimony or praise is discouraged, as it may cause harm and misguidance.
