Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman A‘zami (رحمه الله)
False testimony is absolutely haram, regardless of whether it clearly harms anyone or not.
This is based on the statement of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى):
«فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ»
[Al-Ḥajj: 30]
"So avoid the filth of idols, and avoid false speech."
Abu Bakrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of major sins?”
We said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” He said:
“Associating partners with Allah, and disobedience to parents.”
He was reclining, then he sat up and said:
“And beware — false speech and false testimony.”
He continued to repeat it until we said, “We wish he would stop.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth 5976; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 87/143]
Therefore, even in cases where no obvious harm is perceived, false testimony remains a grave sin, strictly prohibited by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
[اللجنة الدائمة: 6355]
❖ False Testimony Even Without Apparent Harm
False testimony is absolutely haram, regardless of whether it clearly harms anyone or not.
This is based on the statement of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى):
«فَاجْتَنِبُوا الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الْأَوْثَانِ وَاجْتَنِبُوا قَوْلَ الزُّورِ»
[Al-Ḥajj: 30]
"So avoid the filth of idols, and avoid false speech."
Abu Bakrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of major sins?”
We said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” He said:
“Associating partners with Allah, and disobedience to parents.”
He was reclining, then he sat up and said:
“And beware — false speech and false testimony.”
He continued to repeat it until we said, “We wish he would stop.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth 5976; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 87/143]
Therefore, even in cases where no obvious harm is perceived, false testimony remains a grave sin, strictly prohibited by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
[اللجنة الدائمة: 6355]
