False Testimony, Oaths, and Theft: Grave Sins in Islam

False Testimony, Oaths, Theft, and Robbery in Islam
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❖ False Testimony: A Major Sin​

Description of the True Servants of the Most Merciful:​

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ
"And those who do not bear false witness."
[Al-Furqan: 72]

Devastating Consequences of False Testimony:​

◈ Judicial decisions are based on testimony. If the witness is false and the judge is unaware, then the real culprit behind a wrongful decision is the false witness.
◈ False testimony can lead to:
❀ The execution of an innocent person
❀ Violation of financial rights


Hence, it is classified as a major sin.

Prophet ﷺ’s Warning:​

◈ Umm Salamah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"I am only a human being. Disputes come to me, and perhaps one of you may present his argument more eloquently than the other. So I judge based on what I hear. If I give someone a portion of his brother's right, I am giving him a portion of the Hellfire."
[Bukhari: 7169; Muslim: 1713]


◈ Abu Bakrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:


"Associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, and false testimony are major sins... Behold! False speech and false testimony are major sins."
He kept repeating it until we wished he would stop.
[Bukhari: 2654; Muslim: 87]

Dangers of False Testimony:​

❀ Endangers life, wealth, and honor
❀ Leads to injustice against the innocent
❀ Grants unworthy people what they do not deserve


◈ It also includes:
❀ Falsely recommending someone for charity (Zakat) while knowing they are not eligible
❀ Intending good, but acting upon falsehood — still constitutes a major sin

❖ Sanctity of Muslims​

◈ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The blood, wealth, and honor of a Muslim are sacred upon another Muslim."
[Muslim: 2564]

❖ False Oaths to Seize Property​

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّـهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ...
"Indeed, those who trade Allah’s covenant and their oaths for a small price— they will have no share in the Hereafter. Allah will neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful punishment."
[Aal-E-Imran: 77]

Background: Story of Ash‘ath bin Qays (RA):​

◈ Dispute with his cousin over a well; both approached the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Either you present evidence or your brother will take an oath."
◈ Ash‘ath (RA) said:
"He will take a false oath and take my property."
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever seizes a fellow Muslim’s right through a false oath will meet Allah while He is angry."
[Bukhari: 4549; Muslim: 138]


◈ Abu Umamah (RA) narrated:
"Whoever usurps a Muslim’s right through a false oath, Allah makes Hell obligatory and Paradise forbidden for him — even if the item taken is small."
[Muslim: 137]

❖ Lying in Trade by Taking False Oaths​

❖ Trade is a noble source of lawful earning, but lying and taking false oaths to sell goods is condemned.


◈ Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:
"Whoever sells goods after ‘Asr and swears falsely, saying, ‘I bought it for this price,’ while lying — and the buyer believes him — Allah will not speak to him on the Day of Judgment, nor purify him, and he will suffer painful punishment."
[Bukhari: 2369; Muslim: 108]


Note: Though "after ‘Asr" is mentioned, the ruling applies generally. This time is highlighted due to commercial peak hours.

❖ Fate of Traders Who Use False Oaths​

◈ Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (RA) narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Three people Allah will not speak to, nor look at, nor purify on the Day of Judgment — and for them is painful punishment."


When asked who they are, he said:
❶ The one who lets his garment drag below his ankles out of pride
❷ The one who boasts about his favors
❸ The one who sells goods through false oaths
[Muslim: 106]

❖ Theft in Islam​

وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا...
"Cut off the hands of the male and female thief — a punishment from Allah for what they have earned."
[Al-Ma'idah: 38]

Threshold for Amputation:​

◈ Aisha (RA) said:
"The hand is cut off for theft of a quarter dinar or more."
[Bukhari: 6789; Muslim: 1684]


◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Even if Fatimah bint Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand."
[Bukhari: 3733; Muslim: 1688]

❖ Loss of Faith During Theft​

◈ Abu Hurairah (RA):
"A thief is not a believer while committing theft."
[Bukhari: 2475; Muslim: 57]

❖ Theft from Pilgrims​

◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"I saw a man in Hell for stealing the belongings of pilgrims and lying by saying he tripped over a staff."
[Muslim: 904]

❖ Theft from War Booty​

◈ A companion declared someone as a martyr. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"No, he stole from the spoils of war — a cloak — and entered Hell."
[Bukhari: 3074; Muslim: 114]


◈ Abdullah bin Umar (RA):
"Allah does not accept prayer without purity or charity from stolen spoils."
[Muslim: 224]

❖ Armed Robbery and Usurping Property​

If an armed group:
◈ Attacks caravans
◈ Commits murder, abduction, or theft
◈ Violates the honor of women
◈ Spreads terror


Then the punishment is:


إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ...
"Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to cause corruption on earth is that they be killed, crucified, have their hands and feet cut from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter is a great punishment."
[Al-Ma'idah: 33]

❖ Unlawful Land Seizure​

◈ Aisha (RA):
"Whoever unjustly takes a span of land, Allah will burden him with seven earths on the Day of Judgment."
[Bukhari: 2453; Muslim: 1612]

❖ Curse of the Oppressed​

◈ Ibn Abbas (RA):
"Fear the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allah."
[Bukhari: 2448; Muslim: 19]

❖ Altering Land Boundaries​

◈ Abu Tufayl ‘Amir bin Wathilah narrated that Ali (RA) said the Prophet ﷺ stated:


"Cursed is the one who curses his parents, sacrifices to other than Allah, shelters an innovator, or changes land boundaries."
[Muslim: 1978]