Tell them Daddy’s not at home!

The different forms of lying – – A bint Abdulla

“So you see,” said Hamza’s father as he finished reading the storybook, “A Muslim never lies and always tells the truth. That’s what Islaam teaches us.”

Just then, the telephone bell rang sharply in the house. As little Hamza ran to answer it, his father called out, “If it is for me, tell them Daddy is not home!!”

Subhaan Allah!

This is just one the scenarios in our everyday lives. We claim to be Muslims and unhesitatingly say that we are proud to follow it, but when it comes to putting our words into actions, unfortunately, we are far from 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 to 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 to someone on their face. Lying includes all kinds of ‘little white lies’, deceit, deceptions and forgery.

So, telling your kid to say “Daddy’s not home’ when, in fact, you are right there is absolutely a from of lying. And not fulfilling your promises on purpose, when you had the power to do so, is a form of lying. And cheating in the exams is a form of lying. Your ‘friend’ marking you present, although you were absent, is another form of lying. Faking a ‘doctor’s note’ when in reality, you were not sick, you just overslept or were too lazy to go to work or school is also lying. Telling the cop that your wife is having surgery or your kid is sick, (or whatever else excuses one can think of) when he pulls you over for speeding is also lying. Dishonesty in your business dealings as well as in your interaction with others is lying. Giving false witness is one of the gravest forms of lying.

Making a false claim that your injury happened at work, although it didn’t, so that you could get compensation is lying. Pretending to be of low income and applying for government aid, although you are not in need of it, is another form of lying and deception. Forging or altering university certificates to get a job or visa, is just plain and simple, lying and fraud. Paper marriages to get a green card, altering a bill to ’save’ some money or for insurance purposes or some other kind of personal gain is also trickery and deceit. And the list goes on and on…..

We forget that Ibaadah doesn’t mean just praying and fasting. TRUE Ibaadah includes our ‘Mu’amalaat’, how we deal with others, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, our manners and our behavior.

We forget that lying is one of the MAJOR SINS.

The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Shall I not tell you of the greatest of major sins?”
They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah.
He said: “Association of others with Allah, disobedience towards one’s parents” – and he was reclining, but he SAT UP and said: “And false speech and false witness.”

And we forget that lying is one of the signs of the hypocrites. The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) 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.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

We also forget that any apparent ‘gain’ that we get from all these forms of lying is not actually any gain at all. Actually, any money that 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 Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala.

Remember the Hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam):
“Then he mentioned a man who had been traveling for 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 how can his du’aa’ be accepted?” (Muslim)

And one of the biggest harms of lying is that it is the key to the door of Hellfire.
The Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” (Muslim)

Thus we as Muslims, must learn to recognize the different forms of lying as we come across them. We must realize what being truthful really means. It means speaking the truth and saying and doing things that reflect reality. We have to remember the gravity of sin involved in lying and strive to the best of our ability to tell the truth under all circumstances, no matter what the outcome. If you fear Allah, He will find ways out of all difficulties for you and provide for you from means you never even imagined.

“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” (Surah Talaaq:2-3)

Isn’t the above ayah enough reminder for us??!!

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are TRUE (in word and deeds).” [al-Tawbah:119]

‘Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt, for truthfulness is certainty and tranquillity, whilst lying is doubt and confusion.” (Saheeh- al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i, and Ahmad)