Condemnation of Lying and the Importance of Truthfulness in IslamWritten by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam (ḥafiẓahullāh)
❖ Lying: A Severely Condemned Act in Islam
Lying is among the most disliked actions in Islam. It is considered a major sin and is also one of the signs of the approaching Day of Judgment. The Qur'an and the Sunnah present clear evidence denouncing falsehood and emphasizing the importance of truthfulness in every sphere of life.
➊ Condemnation of Lying in the Qur’an
1. Lying Is a Mark of Disbelief
Surah al-Naḥl (16:105):
"إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ"
Translation: “Only those fabricate lies who do not believe in the signs of Allah, and they are the liars.”
This verse links lying to disbelief, indicating that lying is a characteristic of those whose faith is lacking.2. Mixing Truth with Falsehood Is Forbidden
Surah al-Baqarah (2:42):
"وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ"
Translation: “And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].”
This verse condemns the manipulation of truth and intentional concealment, both of which are forms of lying.➋ Condemnation of Lying in the Hadith
1. Truth Leads to Paradise; Lying Leads to Hell
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise... and lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6094, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2607)
This ḥadīth shows the consequences of truth and falsehood: one leads to success in the Hereafter, the other to doom.2. Lying Is a Sign of Hypocrisy
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when entrusted, he betrays."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 33, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 59)
⚠ A liar reflects the traits of a hypocrite, one of the most condemned categories in Islam.
➌ Lying as a Sign of the End Times
1. Prevalence of False Witness and Lies
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Among the signs of the Hour is the spread of falsehood and false testimonies."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 3789)
One of the clear indicators of the approach of the Last Day is the normalization of lying and deceit.2. An Era of Deception and Misjudgment
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet ﷺ said:
"There will come upon the people deceptive years, when the liar will be believed, and the truthful will be disbelieved; the dishonest will be trusted, and the trustworthy will be deemed dishonest; and the foolish will speak."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 7899, Sunan Ibn Mājah: 4036)
This hadith describes a societal collapse in values where truth is turned upside down — a direct result of widespread lying.➍ Social Harms of Lying
✔ Loss of Trust: People no longer rely on one another.
✔ Lack of Justice: Falsehood distorts truth and undermines fairness.
✔ Division and Conflict: Lying spreads enmity and fuels misunderstanding.
Islam declares truthfulness a path to salvation, and lying a path to destruction.
✔ Conclusion
Islamic teachings in both the Qur’an and the Hadith make it abundantly clear that:
- Lying is a major sin
- It is a sign of hypocrisy and the Last Day
- It brings divine displeasure and societal harm
Therefore, Muslims must embrace truthfulness in word and deed to build a community grounded in trust, justice, and integrity.
Supplication
May Allah protect us from the evil of lying and guide us to live with honesty, sincerity, and truthfulness. Āmīn.
