❖ Is It Permissible to Use Fabricated Narrations in Matters of Virtues? ❖
✍ Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri
Is lying in the narrations of virtues (Faḍā'il) considered ḥarām (prohibited)?
Whether the ḥadīths pertain to legal rulings and issues or to virtues and commendable actions, lying in any of them is ḥarām (forbidden) and impermissible, because just like legal rulings, virtues are also part of the religion.
Deliberately fabricating or narrating made-up reports in any religious matter is a grave crime, and there are stern warnings regarding it in the Islamic tradition.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah, deliberately reporting something contrary to reality is also classified as lying. However, if done out of ignorance or negligence, the person will not be held sinful; whereas if done intentionally and knowingly, it will certainly be a sin.
❀ Sayyidunā Mugheerah ibn Shu‘bah (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«من كذب على متعمدا، فليتبوأ مقعده من النار»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1291, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 4)
"Whoever intentionally lies about me, let him take his seat in the Fire."
❀ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله (d. 676 AH) states:
«لا فرق فى تحريم الكذب عليه صلى الله عليه وسلم بين ما كان فى الأحكام وما لا حكم فيه كالترغيب والتره والمواعظ وغير ذلك فكله حرام من أكبر الكبائر وأقبح القبائح بإجماع المسلمين الذين يعتد بهم فى الإجماع»
(Sharḥ Muslim: 1/56, 70)
"There is no difference in the prohibition of lying upon the Prophet ﷺ whether it is regarding legal rulings or issues that do not pertain to rulings, such as encouragements, warnings, exhortations, and others. All of it is forbidden, considered among the major sins and the most heinous of evils, by consensus of those Muslims whose agreement is deemed valid in matters of ijmā‘ (consensus).”
✔ Summary:
Lying in ḥadīths—be it about rulings or virtues—is strictly ḥarām. There is no leniency in fabricating narrations even for seemingly “good” purposes. The prohibition is absolute, and such acts fall under major sins by unanimous agreement of credible scholars.
✍ Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri
❖ Question:
Is lying in the narrations of virtues (Faḍā'il) considered ḥarām (prohibited)?
❖ Answer:
Whether the ḥadīths pertain to legal rulings and issues or to virtues and commendable actions, lying in any of them is ḥarām (forbidden) and impermissible, because just like legal rulings, virtues are also part of the religion.
Deliberately fabricating or narrating made-up reports in any religious matter is a grave crime, and there are stern warnings regarding it in the Islamic tradition.
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamā‘ah, deliberately reporting something contrary to reality is also classified as lying. However, if done out of ignorance or negligence, the person will not be held sinful; whereas if done intentionally and knowingly, it will certainly be a sin.
❖ ① Grave Warning Against Lying on the Prophet ﷺ:
❀ Sayyidunā Mugheerah ibn Shu‘bah (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«من كذب على متعمدا، فليتبوأ مقعده من النار»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1291, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 4)
"Whoever intentionally lies about me, let him take his seat in the Fire."
❖ ② Scholarly Consensus on the Prohibition of Fabricated Narrations:
❀ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله (d. 676 AH) states:
«لا فرق فى تحريم الكذب عليه صلى الله عليه وسلم بين ما كان فى الأحكام وما لا حكم فيه كالترغيب والتره والمواعظ وغير ذلك فكله حرام من أكبر الكبائر وأقبح القبائح بإجماع المسلمين الذين يعتد بهم فى الإجماع»
(Sharḥ Muslim: 1/56, 70)
"There is no difference in the prohibition of lying upon the Prophet ﷺ whether it is regarding legal rulings or issues that do not pertain to rulings, such as encouragements, warnings, exhortations, and others. All of it is forbidden, considered among the major sins and the most heinous of evils, by consensus of those Muslims whose agreement is deemed valid in matters of ijmā‘ (consensus).”
✔ Summary:
Lying in ḥadīths—be it about rulings or virtues—is strictly ḥarām. There is no leniency in fabricating narrations even for seemingly “good” purposes. The prohibition is absolute, and such acts fall under major sins by unanimous agreement of credible scholars.
