Stop lying!

A person came in the court of Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and humbly said: ‘I want to bring Iman on you but I have four bad habits, (1)    I drink alcohol. (2) I am an adulterer. (3) I am a thief. (4) I lie and don’t speak the truth. People comment that you consider these things forbidden whereas I do not have ability to abandon them, I can leave one for your sake, please give me an advice as to which of the four I should give up.’

The Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم advised him not to lie. That man embraced Islam and made a commitment that he will always speak the truth. When he departed from the Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he was offered alcohol, he thought, if I was questioned about it by the Beloved Prophet       صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and I told a lie in response then it will be breaking of a promise and if I speak the truth, the Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم will pronounce the prescribed sentence for sinning. Pondering over this, he refrained from it then he had an opportunity to commit adultery, an addiction which is hard to leave, but he managed to control it; he thought of stealing but at each urge, he pondered, if I commit the crimes and then lie about them, it will be a clear violation of my promise. In the morning, he rushed and submitted to the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that by not telling a lie, he was saved from all major sins, later, he sought forgiveness from all sins. (Tafseer Kabeer, vol. 6, pp. 167)

Dear Islamic brothers! Have you seen! When a person showed a firm determination and conviction of not telling a lie, he refrained from many major sins. It is learnt that lying is the root of all evils and it is the worst of addictions. Whether it is committed through the tongue or action, it is judged either way. Lying means to tell something in a way that is contrary to the truth.[1] I.e., if you are asked whether you had attended the weekly congregation and in response you replied yes (though you did not), or it is asked whether you had eaten and in response it is replied yes, it is a lie because it is opposite to the truth. Lying is such an evil habit which is hated in every religion. Our Deen-e-Islam has laid a lot of emphasis to refrain from it.