Condemnation of False Testimony: In the Light of Ahadith
Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpūrī
❖ Question
سیدنا ابو بکرہ رضی اللہ عنہ narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
الا أنبئكم باكبر الكبائر؟ ثلاثا الإشراك بالله، وعقوق الوالدين، وشهادة الزور او قول الزور، وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم متكنا، فجلس فما زال يكررها حتى قلنا : ليته سكت .
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 2654; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 87)
“I am informing you of the three gravest sins: associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, and giving false testimony. The Noble Prophet ﷺ was reclining at that time; he sat upright and kept repeating this until we wished that he would remain silent.”
Question: Why did the Noble Prophet ﷺ place the greatest emphasis on false testimony and repeat it, while the gravest sin is shirk?
❖ Answer
① There is no doubt that shirk is the gravest sin; however, the Companions رضي الله عنهم already knew this and had been informed many times. Here, the purpose was to highlight the condemnation and ugliness of false testimony, so the Noble Prophet ﷺ considered it appropriate to emphasize it more.
② The Noble Prophet ﷺ addressed people according to the audience, and wisdom and eloquence require that the most prevalent societal evil be condemned more strongly. He ﷺ would advise his listener with what they most needed at that time.
سیدنا ابو ہریرہ رضی اللہ عنہ narrates:
إن رجلا قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : أوصني، قال : لا تغضب فردد مرارا ، قال : لا تغضب .
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6116)
A man said to the Prophet ﷺ, “Advise me.” He ﷺ said, “Do not get angry.” He repeated (the request) several times, and he ﷺ said, “Do not get angry.”
