❀ Lying Is Forbidden—Whether in Jest or in Seriousness ❀
This response is derived from the fatwas compiled in the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
Some people lie jokingly to amuse their friends and make them laugh. Is this act prohibited in Islam?
Yes! This is impermissible in Islam, as all forms of lying are prohibited, regardless of whether it is done jokingly or seriously. Avoiding lies is obligatory.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«عليكم بالصدق، فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر، وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة، وما يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا، وإياكم والكذب، فإن الكذب يهدي إلى الفجور، وإن الفجور يهدي إلى النار، وما يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب، حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا»
“Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth and strives to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie and seeks falsehood until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.”
[Sahih Muslim – Book of Virtue, 105]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«ويل للذي يحدث بالحديث ليضحك به القوم فيكذب، ويل له، ويل له»
“Woe to the one who speaks to make people laugh by lying. Woe to him, woe to him.”
[Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi – Book of Zuhd, Hadith 10]
Hence, it is essential to avoid all types of lies, whether to entertain others or in any serious context.
When a person makes truthfulness his habit and diligently seeks it, he becomes truthful both outwardly and inwardly. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«ولا يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا»
“A man continues to speak the truth and seek truthfulness until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one.”
[Agreed upon]
We should all reflect on the consequences of truthfulness and falsehood, as explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
(By: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله)
This response is derived from the fatwas compiled in the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
Some people lie jokingly to amuse their friends and make them laugh. Is this act prohibited in Islam?
❖ Answer:
Yes! This is impermissible in Islam, as all forms of lying are prohibited, regardless of whether it is done jokingly or seriously. Avoiding lies is obligatory.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«عليكم بالصدق، فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر، وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة، وما يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا، وإياكم والكذب، فإن الكذب يهدي إلى الفجور، وإن الفجور يهدي إلى النار، وما يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب، حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا»
“Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth and strives to be truthful until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie and seeks falsehood until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.”
[Sahih Muslim – Book of Virtue, 105]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«ويل للذي يحدث بالحديث ليضحك به القوم فيكذب، ويل له، ويل له»
“Woe to the one who speaks to make people laugh by lying. Woe to him, woe to him.”
[Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi – Book of Zuhd, Hadith 10]
Hence, it is essential to avoid all types of lies, whether to entertain others or in any serious context.
When a person makes truthfulness his habit and diligently seeks it, he becomes truthful both outwardly and inwardly. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«ولا يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا»
“A man continues to speak the truth and seek truthfulness until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful one.”
[Agreed upon]
We should all reflect on the consequences of truthfulness and falsehood, as explained by the Prophet ﷺ.
(By: Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله)
