“So you see,” said Hamza’s father as he finished reading the storybook, “A Muslim never lies and always tells the truth. That’s wat Islaam teaches us.” Just den, the telephone bell rang sharply in the house. As little Hamza ran 2 answer it, his father called out, “If it is 4 me, tell them Daddy is not home!!” Subhaan Allaah! This is just one the scenarios in our everyday lives. We claim 2 be Muslims and unhesitatingly say dat we are proud 2 follow it, but wen it comes 2 putting our words into actions, unfortunately, we are far frm it. We teach our children one thing but we do another. We preach piety but we ourselves don’t practice it. We lie in our everyday lives and in our dealings with everyone yet we are totally unaware of it. There are many of us who, pray and fast, and are the first 2 criticize others. But our practical lives are full of all forms of lying, fraud and dishonesty. And we see examples of such lying left and right, day in and day out. And lying doesn’t just mean outrightly telling untruths 2 someone on their face. Lying includes all kinds of ‘little white lies’, deceit, deceptions and forgery. So, telling ur kid 2 say “Daddy’s not home’ wen, in fact, ure right there is absolutely a form of lying. And not fulfilling ur promises on purpose, wen u had the power 2 do so, is a form of lying. And cheating in the exams is a form of lying. Your ‘friend’ marking u present, although u were absent, is another form of lying. Faking a ‘doctor’s note’ wen in reality, u were not sick, u just overslept or were too lazy 2 go 2 work or school is also lying. Telling the cop or a road safety official dat ur wife is having surgery or ur kid is sick, or watever else excuses one can think of wen he pulls u over 4 speeding is also lying. Dishonesty in ur business dealings as well as in ur interaction with others is lying. Giving false witness is one of the gravest forms of lying. Making a false claim dat ur injury happened at work, although it didn’t, so dat u could get compensation is lying. Pretending 2 be of low income and applying 4 govt aid or scholarship, although u are not in need of it, is another form of lying and deception. Forging or altering university certificates 2 get a job or visa, is just plain and simple, lying and fraud. Paper marriages 2 get a green card, altering a bill 2 ‘save’ some money or 4 insurance purposes or some other kind of personal gain is also trickery and deceit. And the list goes on and on……. We 4get dat Ibaadah doesn’t mean just praying and fasting. TRUE Ibaadah includes our ‘Mu’amalaat’, hw we deal with others, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, our manners and our behavior. We 4get dat lying is on of the MAJOR SINS. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Shall I not tell u of the greatest of major sins?” They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allaah. He said: “Association of others with Allaah, disobedience towards one’s parents” – and he was reclining, but he SAT UP and said: “And false speech and false witness.” And we 4get dat lying is one of the signs of the hypocrites. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The signs of the hypocrite are three: wen he speaks, he lies, wen he makes a promise he breaks it, and wen he is entrusted with something he breaks dat trust.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim) We also 4get dat any apparent ‘gain’ dat we get frm all these forms of lying is not actually any gain at all. Actually, any money dat we earn or save is all haraam because we didn’t earn it lawfully. And it is one of the reasons why dua is rejected by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala. Remember the Hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam): “Then he mentioned a man who had been traveling 4 a long time and was disheveled and dusty; he stretches out his hands towards the heavens and says, ‘O Lord, O Lord’, but his food is haraam, his drink is haraam, his clothing is haraam. He is nourished by haraam, so hw can his du’aa’ be accepted?” (Muslim) And one of the biggest harms of lying is dat it is the key 2 the door of Hellfire. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Beware of telling lies, 4 lying leads 2 immorality and immorality leads 2 Hellfire. A man ll keep telling lies and striving 2 tell lies until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar.” (Muslim) Thus we as Muslims, must learn 2 recognize the different forms of lying as we come across them. We must realize wat being truthful really means. It means speaking the truth and saying and doing things dat reflect reality. We hv 2 remember the gravity of sin involved in lying and strive 2 the best of our ability 2 tell the truth under all circumstances, no matter wat the outcome. If u fear Allaah, He will find ways out of all difficulties 4u and provide 4u frm means u nvr even imagined. “And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty 2 Him, He will make a way 4 him 2 get out (frm every difficulty). And He will provide him frm (sources) he nvr could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, den He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure 4 all things.” (Surah Talaaq:2-3) Isn’t the above ayah enough reminder 4 us??!! “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are TRUE (in word and deeds).” [al-Tawbah:119] ‘Leave dat which makes u doubt 4 dat which does not make u doubt, 4 truthfulness is certainty and tranquillity, whilst lying is doubt and confusion.”
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:27:57 +0000
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