Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Lying and Deception: Difference between revisions

Lying in general, as well as in specific situations such as commercial transactions is condemned in various hadiths, and the Qur'an condemns various groups for (allegedly) lying about Allah and Muhammad. Lying is generally also considered a sin for believers and truthfulness a virtue by Islamic jurists, though certain exceptions are permitted. The tradition records Muhammad lying on a number of occasions when it served his purpose, particularly when it came to warfare. Such was his fondness for the tactic that there are two instances of [[sahih]] hadith recording his saying: "war is deceit." This is of course a strategem of war that has been employed across the ages and cultures of the world. Hadiths also record him sometimes [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Muhammad and Oaths|break an oath]] and expiating for doing so when a better option had presented itself. In addition, Allah himself is recorded as being "the best deceiver" in contrast to the plotting of the disbelievers, and leading those he disapproves of to the fire; in fact, according to the doctrine of [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Predestination|qadr]] all those who go to hell are deliberately decieved by Allah into this final doom.  

Contrasting Allah's military plotting with that of the disbelievers, the Qur'an states in a few verses that Allah is the "best deceiver", for more info on this idea see: [[Allah the Best Deceiver]].<nowiki></ref></nowiki>

The Qur'an tells us that Allah will not call Muslims to account for what is "futile in their oaths". They will be forgiven if they fast for three days.

The words "in some cases" of the above verse are not present in the original Arabic text. So this verse could even be giving Muslims a carte blanche to break oaths.

===Taqiyya (hiding faith to preserve life)===

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|73|116}}|

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|71|662}}| Narrated Abdullah bin Umar: Two men came from the East and addressed the people who wondered at their eloquent speeches. On that '''Allah's Apostle said 'Some eloquent speech is as effective as magic'''.'}}

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|147}}|Narrated Sahl bin Sad As-Sa'idi: ...Allah's Apostle said, "A man may seem to the people as if he were practising the deeds of the people of Paradise while in fact he is from the people of the Hell) Fire, '''another may seem to the people as if he were practicing the deeds of the people of Hell (Fire), while in fact he is from the people of Paradise'''."}}

That she heard Allah's Apostle saying, "'''He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar'''."}}

====Breaking Oaths when there is something better====

In Sahih Bukhari we find narrations telling us Prophet Muhammad had said if he took an oath and later found something else better, he would do "what is better" and expiate his oath.

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|67|427}}|

We were in the company of Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari and there were friendly relations between us and this tribe of Jarm. Abu Musa was presented with a dish containing chicken. Among the people there was sitting a red-faced man who did not come near the food. Abu Musa said (to him), "Come on (and eat), for I have seen Allah's Apostle eating of it (i.e. chicken)." He said, "I have seen it eating something (dirty) and since then I have disliked it, and have taken an oath that I shall not eat it ' Abu Musa said, "Come on, I will tell you (or narrate to you). Once I went to Allah s Apostle with a group of Al-Ash'ariyin, and met him while he was angry, distributing some camels of Rakat. We asked for mounts but he took an oath that he would not give us any mounts, and added, 'I have nothing to mount you on' In the meantime some camels of booty were brought to Allah's Apostle and he asked twice, 'Where are Al-Ash'ariyin?" So he gave us five white camels with big humps. We stayed for a short while (after we had covered a little distance), and then I said to my companions, "Allah's Apostle has forgotten his oath. By Allah, if we do not remind Allah's Apostle of his oath, we will never be successful." So we returned to the Prophet and said, '''"O Allah's Apostle! We asked you for mounts, but you took an oath that you would not give us any mounts; we think that you have forgotten your oath.'''' He said, 'It is Allah Who has given you mounts. '''By Allah, and Allah willing, if I take an oath and later find something else better than that. then I do what is better and expiate my oath.'''' "}}

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|89|260}}|

Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samura:

The Prophet said, "O 'Abdur-Rahman! Do not seek to be a ruler, for if you are given authority on your demand then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking (for it), then you will be helped (by Allah) in it. '''If you ever take an oath to do something and later on you find that something else is better, then you should expiate your oath and do what is better.'''"}}

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|267}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Khosrau will be ruined, and there will be no Khosrau after him, and Caesar will surely be ruined and there will be no Caesar after him, and you will spend their treasures in Allah's Cause." He called, "'''War is deceit''''. }}

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|268}}|Narrated Abu Huraira:  

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|269}}|Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:  

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|271}}|"Narrated Jabir : The Prophet said, ‘Who is ready to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf (i.e. a Jew).’ Muhammad bin Maslama replied, ‘Do you like me to kill him?’ The Prophet replied in the affirmative.''' Muhammad bin Maslama said, ‘Then allow me to say what I like.’ The Prophet replied ‘I do (i.e. allow you).’'''"}}

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|5|59|369}}|Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, '''"Who is willing to kill Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?" Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?" The Prophet said, "Yes," Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). "The Prophet said, "You may say it."''' Then Muhammad bin Maslama went to Kab and said, "That man (i.e. Muhammad demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us, and he has troubled us, and I have come to borrow something from you." On that, Kab said, "By Allah, you will get tired of him!" Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Now as we have followed him, we do not want to leave him unless and until we see how his end is going to be. Now we want you to lend us a camel load or two of food." (Some difference between narrators about a camel load or two.) Kab said, "Yes, (I will lend you), but you should mortgage something to me." Muhammad bin Mas-lama and his companion said, "What do you want?" Ka'b replied, "Mortgage your women to me." They said, "How can we mortgage our women to you and you are the most handsome of the 'Arabs?" Ka'b said, "Then mortgage your sons to me." They said, "How can we mortgage our sons to you? Later they would be abused by the people's saying that so-and-so has been mortgaged for a camel load of food. That would cause us great disgrace, but we will mortgage our arms to you." Muhammad bin Maslama and his companion promised Kab that Muhammad would return to him. He came to Kab at night along with Kab's foster brother, Abu Na'ila. Kab invited them to come into his fort, and then he went down to them. His wife asked him, "Where are you going at this time?" Kab replied, "None but Muhammad bin Maslama and my (foster) brother Abu Na'ila have come." His wife said, "I hear a voice as if dropping blood is from him, Ka'b said. "They are none but my brother Muhammad bin Maslama and my foster brother Abu Naila. A generous man should respond to a call at night even if invited to be killed." Muhammad bin Maslama went with two men. (Some narrators mention the men as 'Abu bin Jabr. Al Harith bin Aus and Abbad bin Bishr). So Muhammad bin Maslama went in together with two men, and sail to them, "When Ka'b comes, I will touch his hair and smell it, and when you see that I have got hold of his head, strip him. I will let you smell his head." Kab bin Al-Ashraf came down to them wrapped in his clothes, and diffusing perfume. Muhammad bin Maslama said. " have never smelt a better scent than this. Ka'b replied. "I have got the best 'Arab women who know how to use the high class of perfume." Muhammad bin Maslama requested Ka'b "Will you allow me to smell your head?" Ka'b said, "Yes." Muhammad smelt it and made his companions smell it as well. '''Then he requested Ka'b again, "Will you let me (smell your head)?" Ka'b said, "Yes." When Muhammad got a strong hold of him, he said (to his companions), "Get at him!" So they killed him and went to the Prophet and informed him. (Abu Rafi) was killed after Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf."'''}}

{{Quote|{{Muslim|32|6308}}

====Three cases do not count as lying====

 

{{Quote|<!-- http://searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=the+words+of+the+husband+to+his+wife&translator=2&search=1&book=&start http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsearchtruth.com%2FsearchHadith.php%3Fkeyword%3Dthe%2Bwords%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bhusband%2Bto%2Bhis%2Bwife%26translator%3D2%26search%3D1%26book%3D%26start&date=2012-02-25 -->{{Muslim|32|6303}}|Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf reported that his mother Umm Kulthum daughter of 'Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and she was one amongst the first emigrants who pledged allegiance to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him), as saying that she heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: '''A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he conveys good'''. Ibn Shihab said he did not hear that exemption was granted in anything what the people speak as lie but in three cases: '''in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the narration of the words of the husband to his wife, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband''' (in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them).}}

See also: [[Qur%27an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Lying_and_Deception#It.27s_not_lawful_to_lie_except_in_3_cases_.28that_cover_too_much.29]] (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 4:25:1939)

====Breaking Oaths when there is something better====

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{{Quote|{{Muslim|15|4062}}|

Abd al-Rahman b. Samura reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Abd al-Rahman b. Samura, don't ask for authority for if it is granted to you for asking for it, you would be commissioned for it (without having the support of Allah), but if you are granted it without your asking for it. You would be helped (by Allah) in it. '''And when you take an oath and find something else better than that, expiate for (breaking) your oath, and do that which is better. This hadith has also been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Farrukh.'''}}

{{Quote|{{Muslim|19|4436}}|It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Who will kill Ka'b b. Ashraf? He has maligned Allah, the Exalted, and His Messenger. Muhammad b. Maslama said: Messenger of Allah, do you wish that I should kill him? He said: Yes. He said: '''Permit me to talk (to him in the way I deem fit). He said: Talk (as you like)'''. So, Muhammad b. Maslama came to Ka'b and talked to him, referred to the old friendship between them and said: This man (i. e. the Holy Prophet) has made up his mind to collect charity (from us) and this has put us to a great hardship. When be heard this, Ka'b said: By God, you will be put to more trouble by him. Muhammad b. Maslama said: No doubt, now we have become his followers and we do not like to forsake him until we see what turn his affairs will take. I want that you should give me a loan. He said: What will you mortgage? He said: What do you want? He said: Pledge me your women. He said: You are the most handsome of the Arabs; should we pledge our women to you? He said: Pledge me your children. He said: The son of one of us may abuse us saying that he was pledged for two wasqs of dates, but we can pledge you (cur) weapons. He said: All right. Then Muhammad b. Maslama promised that he would come to him with Harith, Abu 'Abs b. Jabr and Abbad b. Bishr. So they came and called upon him at night. He came down to them. Sufyan says that all the narrators except 'Amr have stated that his wife said: I hear a voice which sounds like the voice of murder. He said: It is only Muhammad b. Maslama and his foster-brother, Abu Na'ila. When a gentleman is called at night even it to be pierced with a spear, he should respond to the call. Muhammad said to his companions: As he comes down, I will extend my hands towards his head and when I hold him fast, you should do your job. So when he came down and he was holding his cloak under his arm, they said to him: '''We sense from you a very fine smell. He said: Yes, I have with me a mistress who is the most scented of the women of Arabia. He said: Allow me to smell (the scent on your head). He said: Yes, you may smell. So he caught it and smelt. Then he said: Allow me to do so (once again). He then held his head fast and said to his companions: Do your job. And they killed him'''.}}

{{Quote|{{Abudawud|41|4903}} (not available) - {{external link| url =https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4921| title = mirror on sunnah.com | author = | date = | archiveurl = | deadurl = no}}|Chapter: Reconciliation