Blog Archives
White Lies (Hadith No. 2355)
Bismillah.
Volume 3, Book 49, Number 857 :
Narrated by Um Kulthum bint Uqba (radiallaahu `anhaa)
That she heard Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) saying, “He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar.”
The basic principle concerning telling lies is that it is one of the signs of the hypocrites, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with something he breaks that trust.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 32; Muslim, 89.
But there are some instances in which Islam permits lying, if that serves a greater purpose or wards off a greater harm:
These cases include the following:
1- When a person is intermediating in order to bring about reconciliation between two disputing parties.
2- When a man speaks to his wife, or a wife to her husband, concerning matters that will increase the love between them.
3- War.
It was narrated that Asma’ bint Yazeed said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Lies are not appropriate except in three cases: when a man speaks to his wife to please her, telling lies at times of war, and lying in order to bring about reconciliation between people.”
Shaykh al-Albaani said: it is hasan.
Taken from IslamQA
Read about white lies here.
Of Honesty and Oaths (Ahadith 2331 – 2347)
Bismillah.
This post contains some repeated narrations and some new. Since they were all more or less related to one theme, I decided to combine them in post. Look for hyper-linked text to see previously covered ahadith.
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 833 :
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Bath on Friday is compulsory for those who have attained the age of puberty.”
This one’s more related to yesterday’s post, since it talks about puberty and things associated to it.
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 834 :
Narrated by Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If somebody takes a false oath in order to get the property of a Muslim (unjustly) by that oath, then Allah will be angry with him when he will meet Him.” Al-Ash’ath (radiallaahu `anhu) informed me, “By Allah! This was said regarding me. There was a dispute about a piece of land between me and a man from the Jews who denied my right. I took him to the Prophet. Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked me, ‘Do you have an evidence?’ I replied in the negative. He said to the Jew, ‘Take an oath.’ I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! He will surely take an oath and take my property unjustly.” So, Allah revealed: “Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths . . . ” (3.77)
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 835 :
Narrated by Ibn Abu Mulaika
Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) wrote that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) gave his verdict on the basis of the defendant’s oath.
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 836 :
Narrated by Abu Wail
Abdullah (bin Mas’ud) (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “Whoever takes a (false) oath in order to grab some property (unjustly), Allah will be angry with him when he will meet Him. Allah confirmed that through His Divine Revelation: “Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths . . . they will have a painful punishment.” (3.77) Al-Ash’ath bin Qais (radiallaahu `anhu) came to us and asked, ‘What is Abu Abdur-Rahman (i.e. ‘Abdullah) telling you? ‘We told him what he was narrating to us. He said, ‘He was telling the truth; this Divine Verse was revealed in connection with me. There was a dispute between me and another man about something and the case was filed before Allah’s Apostle who said, ‘Produce your two witnesses or else the defendant is to take an oath.’ I said, The defendant will surely take a (false) oath caring for nothing.’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Whoever takes a false oath in order to grab (other’s) property, then Allah will be angry with him when he will meet Him.’ Then Allah revealed its confirmation. Al-Ashath then recited the above Divine Verse.” (3.77)
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 837 :
Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Hilal bin Umaiya accused his wife before the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) of committing illegal sexual intercourse with Sharik bin Sahma.’ The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Produce a proof, or else you would get the legal punishment (by being lashed) on your back.” Hilal said, “O Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! If anyone of us saw another man over his wife, would he go to search for a proof.” The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) went on saying, “Produce a proof or else you would get the legal punishment (by being lashed) on your back.” The Prophet then mentioned the narration of Lian (as in the Holy Book). (Surat-al-Nur: 24)
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 838 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “There are three persons whom Allah will neither talk to nor look at, nor purify from (the sins), and they will have a painful punishment. (They are): (1) A man possessed superfluous water on a way and he withheld it from the travelers. (2) a man who gives a pledge of allegiance to a Muslim ruler and gives it only for worldly gains. If the ruler gives him what he wants, he remains obedient to It, otherwise he does not abide by it, and (3) a man bargains with another man after the Asr prayer and the latter takes a false oath in the Name of Allah) claiming that he has been offered so much for the thing and the former (believes him and) buys it.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 839 :
Narrated by Ibn Mas’ud (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever takes a (false) oath in order to grab (others) property, then Allah will be angry with him when he will meet Him.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 840 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asked some people to take an oath, and they hurried for it. The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) ordered that lots should be drawn amongst them as to who would take an oath first.
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 841 :
Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin Abu Aufa (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man displayed some goods in the market and took a false oath that he had been offered so much for them though he was not offered that amount Then the following Divine Verse was revealed:– “Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths . . . Will get painful punishment.” (3.77) Ibn Abu Aufa added, “Such person as described above is a treacherous Riba-eater (i.e. eater of usury).
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 842 :
Narrated by Abu Wail from Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever takes a false oath in order to grab another man’s (or his brother’s) property, then Allah will be angry with him when he will meet him.” Then Allah confirmed this by revealing the Divine Verse: “Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah’s Covenant and their oaths . . . Will get painful punishment.” (3.77) Al-Ash’ath met me and asked, “What did ‘Abdullah tell you today?” I said, “So and so.” He said, “The Verse was revealed regarding my case.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 843 :
Narrated by Talha bin ‘Ubaidullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
A man came to Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) asking him about Islam, Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “You have to offer five compulsory prayers in a day and a night (24 hours).” The man asked, “Is there any more compulsory prayers for me?” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No, unless you like to offer Nawafil (i.e. optional prayers).” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) then added, “You have to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan.” The man said, “Am I to fast any other days?’ Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No, unless you wish to observe the optional fast voluntarily.” Then Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) told him about the compulsory Zakat. The man asked, “Do I have to give anything besides?” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “No, unless you wish to give in charity voluntarily.” So, the man departed saying, “By Allah I will neither do more nor less than that.” Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “If he has said the truth he will be successful.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 844 :
Narrated by Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever has to take an oath should swear by Allah or remain silent.” (i.e. He should not swear by other than Allah.)
It is not permissible to swear by any created thing. One should swear only by Allaah. One should not say “By my honesty I will do such and such”, or “by the honesty of So and so”, or “by the life of So and so” or “by my prayer”. Nor should one ask anyone else to do this and tell them, “Say ‘by my honesty/by my prayer/ by my zakaah.’” There is no basis for any of this, because prayer is the action of a person and zakaah is the action of a person, and people’s actions are not something to swear by. One should swear only by Allaah or by His attributes. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever swears by anything other than Allaah has committed shirk.” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him)). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever swears by honesty is not one of us.” So every believing man and woman has to beware of that and not swear by anything except Allaah alone, so he should say “Wallaahi (by Allaah) I did not do such and such”, etc., if that is necessary. What is recommended in sharee’ah is to be cautious about swearing oaths, and not to swear except when essential. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much)”[al-Maa’idah 5:89]
Taken from IslamQA
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 845 :
Narrated by Um Salama (radiallaahu `anhu)
Once Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “You people present your cases to me and some of you may be more eloquent and persuasive in presenting their argument. So, if I give some one’s right to another (wrongly) because of the latter’s (tricky) presentation of the case, I am really giving him a piece of fire; so he should not take it.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 846 :
Narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu)
Abu Sufyan (radiallaahu `anhu) told me that Heraclius said to him, “When I inquired you what he (i.e. Muhammad) ordered you, you replied that he ordered you to establish the prayer, to speak the truth, to be chaste, to keep promises and to pay back trusts.” Then Heraclius added, “These are really the qualities of a prophet.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 847 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: (1) whenever he speaks, he tells a lie, (2) whenever he is entrusted, he proves to be dishonest, (3) whenever he promises, he breaks his promise.
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 848 :
Narrated by Muhammad bin Ali
Jabir bin Abdullah (radiallaahu `anhu) said, “When the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) died, Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) received some property from Al-Ala bin Al-Hadrami. Abu Bakr said to the people, “Whoever has a money claim on the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam), or was promised something by him, should come to us (so that we may pay him his right).” Jabir added, “I said (to Abu Bakr), Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) promised me that he would give me this much, and this much, and this much (spreading his hands three times).” Jabir (radiallaahu `anhu) added, “Abu Bakr (radiallaahu `anhu) counted for me and handed me five-hundred (gold pieces), and then five-hundred, and then five-hundred.”
Volume 3, Book 48, Number 849 :
Narrated by Said bin Jubair (radiallaahu `anhu)
A Jew from Hira asked me which one of the two periods Musa (i.e. Prophet Moses) (`alayhissalaam) completed. I said, “I don’t know, (but wait) till I see the most learned ‘Arab and inquire him about it.” So, I went to Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) and asked him. He replied, “Moses (`alayhissalaam) completed the longer and better period.” Ibn ‘Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) added, “No doubt, an apostle of Allah always does what he says.”
This narration talks about the story when Musa fled from Egypt and came to Madyan.. helped two girls at the well and their father hired him.. he gave Musa two options: that he work for him for 8 or 10 years and the Quran doesn’t mention which tenure he completed.. So Ibn Abbas (radiallaahu `anhu) said that he completed the longer and better period – 10 years. Details in tafsir of Surah al-Qasas: 25 – 28.
It’s brought here because it shows how he was true to his word. #Honesty
The Story of Sarah and the King of Egypt (Hadith No. 1915)
Bismillah.
Volume 3, Book 34, Number 420 :
Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “The Prophet Abraham (`alayhissalaam) emigrated with Sarah and entered a village where there was a king or a tyrant. (The king) was told that Abraham (`alayhissalaam) had entered (the village) accompanied by a woman who was one of the most charming women. So, the king sent for Abraham (`alayhissalaam) and asked, ‘O Abraham! Who is this lady accompanying you?’ Abraham replied, ‘She is my sister (i.e. in religion).’ Then Abraham (`alayhissalaam) returned to her and said, ‘Do not contradict my statement, for I have informed them that you are my sister. By Allah, there are no true believers on this land except you and I.’ Then Abraham (`alayhissalaam) sent her to the king. When the king got to her, she got up and performed ablution, prayed and said, ‘O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle, and have saved my private parts from everybody except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.’ On that the king fell in a mood of agitation and started moving his legs. Seeing the condition of the king, Sarah said, ‘O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have killed him.’ The king regained his power, and proceeded towards her but she got up again and performed ablution, prayed and said, ‘O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle and have kept my private parts safe from all except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.’ The king again fell in a mood of agitation and started moving his legs. On seeing that state of the king, Sarah said, ‘O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have killed him.’ The king got either two or three attacks, and after recovering from the last attack he said, ‘By Allah! You have sent a satan to me. Take her to Abraham and give her Ajar.’ So she came back to Abraham (`alayhissalaam) and said, ‘Allah humiliated the pagan and gave us a slave-girl for service.”
Ibn Kathir mentions a hadith about this incident in his book “Stories of the Prophets“. Here is the relevant part of it to help you understand the story better:
Abu Hurairah narrated that Abraham (peace be upon him) did not tell a lie except on three occasions, twice for the sake of Allah, Exalted and Almighty.
The first time was when he said: “I am sick.” When his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Abraham excused himself by saying he was sick.
The second time was when he said: “I have not done this but the big idol has done it.”
The third was while Abraham and Sarah, his wife, were going on a journey. They passed by the territory of a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant: “This man (Abraham) is accompanied by a very charming lady.”
So the tyrant sent for Abraham and asked him about Sarah asking, “Who is this lady?” Abraham said: “She is my sister.” Abraham went to Sarah said “O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and me. This man asked me about you and I have told him that you are my sister. Do not contradict my statement.” The tyrant then called Sarah.
When she went to him, he tried to take a hold of her with his hand, but his hand got stiff and he was confounded. He asked Sarah: “Pray to Allah for me and I shall not harm you.” Then, Sarah asked Allah to cure him and he got cured.
He tried to take hold of her for the second time, but his hand got as stiff as — or stiffer — than before, and he was once more confounded.
He again requested Sarah: “Pray to Allah for me, and I will not harm you.” Sarah asked Allah again to cure him, and he became all right. He then called one of his guards who had brought her and said: “You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a devil.” The tyrant then gave Hajar as a maid servant to Sarah.
Abraham, gesturing with his hand, asked: “What has happened?” She replied: “Allah has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel or immoral person and gave me Hajar for service.
These “lies” were, in fact, not lies at all. They were merely allusions and ambiguous statements.
When he said to his idolatrous people: “I am sick” [Sûrah al-Sâffât: 87], he intended to insult their idols, of which he was sickened, and to support Allah’s religion. He wanted to show them the falsehood of their idolatry.
When Abraham destroyed the idols of his people, he left the largest idol standing. When his people confronted him and accused him, he said: “Nay! It was done by this largest one of them.” [Sûrah al-Anbiyâ’: 63] By this, he intended to show them clearly that their idols could not actually talk or act or help themselves in any way, and that they were the same as any other pile of rocks. He was forcing them, in this way, to admit that their idols were helpless.
As for his saying to his wife: “Tell him that you are my sister”, we have already seen how he was referring to her being his sister in faith.
Read more on this here. (While I link the post here for the benefit of further reading, I do not recommend its author nor trust his opinions regarding hadith and its legislative position in general.)
The Worst Lie (Hadith No. 106)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Lying is a major sin. It’s the trait of a hypocrite. And there are many punishments prescribed for it. But there are further divisions and degrees of lying. Among the highest ones is: lying against the Prophet (SAW). It includes misquoting him/telling a lie to dis him. The punishment is grave. Even more than a regular lie..
Narrated ‘Ali:
The Prophet said, “Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he will surely enter the Hell-fire.”
Lesson: be careful while quoting Prophet (SAW)’s Ahadith. If there’s no reference, do not pass it on. If it’ not authentic, don’t even believe in it. This is a serious matter, so take it seriously!
Wasslam.
iLookiListen 