Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
وعن بهز بن حكيم عن أبيه عن جده رضي الله عنهم قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: ويل للذي يحدث فيكذب ليضحك به القوم، ويل له، ثم ويل له.
It is narrated from Bahz bin Ḥakīm, from his father, from his grandfather (رضي الله عنهم), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Woe to the one who speaks and lies to make people laugh. Woe to him! Woe to him!”
Narrated by the three [Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasā’ī] — and its chain is strong.
Numerous narrations strongly prohibit lying; see also Hadiths no. 1400 and 1432 of this same book.
This particular Hadith forbids a specific kind of lie — lying to make people laugh, which is often taken lightly.
The Prophet ﷺ declared multiple times "Woe to him!", indicating severe destruction and punishment for such a person.
If fabricating lies to make people laugh leads to destruction, then listening to and enjoying such lies also shares in the sin.
Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim that when they hear such speech, they must forbid it.
If the speaker does not desist, and one is unable to stop him by force, then they must leave the gathering.
فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَى مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
[al-An‘ām 6:68]
"So do not sit after the reminder with the wrongdoing people."
Umm Kulthūm bint ʿUqbah bin Abī Mu‘īṭ (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
‘The one who reconciles between people and conveys good or speaks good is not a liar.’”
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah, Vol. 1, Chapter 27]
She also said:
“I never heard the Prophet (ﷺ) grant permission for lying in anything people say — except in three cases:
① In battle,
② In reconciliation between people, and
③ Between a husband and wife in their speech to one another.”
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah, Chapter 27]
This highlights how much Allah values love and mutual affection among Muslims.
He forbade truthful speech that leads to slander and causes enmity.
Yet, He permitted lying when it helps in reconciling people or improving the relationship between husband and wife.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا
[al-Mā’idah: 32]
"Whoever kills a person without [legal retribution] or corruption on earth, it is as if he has killed all mankind..."
In war, revealing the truth to the enemy can lead to the mass killing of Muslims, making such honesty disastrously harmful.
Likewise, if strategic deception is not employed, the Muslims may lose the battle.
Scholars state that if a tyrant is pursuing someone’s life or wealth, and one knows their location, then telling the truth could lead to their harm.
In such cases, lying becomes obligatory to protect life and property.
If possible, one should avoid outright lies and use ambiguous language (معاريض) — words with double meanings where:
✔ The listener understands one thing,
✔ But the speaker means something else,
✔ And the literal words remain true.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ often did this.
So did other Prophets and righteous servants of Allah.
Example:
Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) on three occasions spoke apparent contradictions, yet he intended something completely valid and truthful.
Similarly, during the Hijrah, someone asked Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (رضي الله عنه) about his companion. He replied:
هَذَا الرَّجُلُ يَهْدِينِي السَّبِيلَ
"This man is guiding me on the path."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Manāqib al-Anṣār/45]
These types of phrases are called Maʿārīḍ. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, in Maʿārīḍ there is a way out from lying."
(إن في المعاريض لمندوحة عن الكذب)
Still, if avoiding explicit falsehood is impossible in warfare, it is permitted.
✔ Lying to entertain others is a serious sin, carrying a threat of repeated woe (ويل) from the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Listening to such lies and remaining silent is also blameworthy.
✔ Lying is only permitted in three cases:
① War
② Reconciliation between people
③ Speech between husband and wife
✔ Truth that harms is forbidden, and lies that reconcile are sometimes allowed.
✔ It is better to use ambiguous speech to avoid lying while still achieving necessary outcomes.
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
❖ Ḥadīth
وعن بهز بن حكيم عن أبيه عن جده رضي الله عنهم قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: ويل للذي يحدث فيكذب ليضحك به القوم، ويل له، ثم ويل له.
It is narrated from Bahz bin Ḥakīm, from his father, from his grandfather (رضي الله عنهم), that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Woe to the one who speaks and lies to make people laugh. Woe to him! Woe to him!”
Narrated by the three [Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasā’ī] — and its chain is strong.
Referencing
- Ṣaḥīḥ: [Abū Dāwūd 4990], [al-Tirmidhī 2315], [al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Nasā’ī, al-Tafsīr/410]
- Al-Tirmidhī and al-Albānī graded it authentic: see [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī 1885], [Ghayah 376], [Mishkāt 4838]
✿ Key Points & Benefits
➊ Lying to Make People Laugh Is Destructive
Numerous narrations strongly prohibit lying; see also Hadiths no. 1400 and 1432 of this same book.
This particular Hadith forbids a specific kind of lie — lying to make people laugh, which is often taken lightly.
The Prophet ﷺ declared multiple times "Woe to him!", indicating severe destruction and punishment for such a person.
➋ Listening to Lying Jokes Is Also Forbidden
If fabricating lies to make people laugh leads to destruction, then listening to and enjoying such lies also shares in the sin.
Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim that when they hear such speech, they must forbid it.
If the speaker does not desist, and one is unable to stop him by force, then they must leave the gathering.
فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَى مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
[al-An‘ām 6:68]
"So do not sit after the reminder with the wrongdoing people."
➌ Situations in Which Lying Is Permissible
Umm Kulthūm bint ʿUqbah bin Abī Mu‘īṭ (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:
‘The one who reconciles between people and conveys good or speaks good is not a liar.’”
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah, Vol. 1, Chapter 27]
She also said:
“I never heard the Prophet (ﷺ) grant permission for lying in anything people say — except in three cases:
① In battle,
② In reconciliation between people, and
③ Between a husband and wife in their speech to one another.”
[Muslim, al-Birr wa al-Ṣilah, Chapter 27]
➍ Comparing Slander and Reconciliation
This highlights how much Allah values love and mutual affection among Muslims.
He forbade truthful speech that leads to slander and causes enmity.
Yet, He permitted lying when it helps in reconciling people or improving the relationship between husband and wife.
➎ Why Is Lying Permissible in War?
Allah says in the Qur’an:
مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا
[al-Mā’idah: 32]
"Whoever kills a person without [legal retribution] or corruption on earth, it is as if he has killed all mankind..."
In war, revealing the truth to the enemy can lead to the mass killing of Muslims, making such honesty disastrously harmful.
Likewise, if strategic deception is not employed, the Muslims may lose the battle.
Scholars state that if a tyrant is pursuing someone’s life or wealth, and one knows their location, then telling the truth could lead to their harm.
In such cases, lying becomes obligatory to protect life and property.
✦ Preferred Practice: Using Ambiguous Language (Maʿārīḍ)
If possible, one should avoid outright lies and use ambiguous language (معاريض) — words with double meanings where:
✔ The listener understands one thing,
✔ But the speaker means something else,
✔ And the literal words remain true.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ often did this.
So did other Prophets and righteous servants of Allah.
Example:
Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) on three occasions spoke apparent contradictions, yet he intended something completely valid and truthful.
Similarly, during the Hijrah, someone asked Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (رضي الله عنه) about his companion. He replied:
هَذَا الرَّجُلُ يَهْدِينِي السَّبِيلَ
"This man is guiding me on the path."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Manāqib al-Anṣār/45]
These types of phrases are called Maʿārīḍ. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Indeed, in Maʿārīḍ there is a way out from lying."
(إن في المعاريض لمندوحة عن الكذب)
Still, if avoiding explicit falsehood is impossible in warfare, it is permitted.
Summary
✔ Lying to entertain others is a serious sin, carrying a threat of repeated woe (ويل) from the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Listening to such lies and remaining silent is also blameworthy.
✔ Lying is only permitted in three cases:
① War
② Reconciliation between people
③ Speech between husband and wife
✔ Truth that harms is forbidden, and lies that reconcile are sometimes allowed.
✔ It is better to use ambiguous speech to avoid lying while still achieving necessary outcomes.
