Library Ethics Greater Sins Chapter 19 The Seventeenth Greater Sin: Lying Total abstinence from lying
Total abstinence from lying
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Total abstinence from lying
Hazrat Imam Zayn ul-’AbidÄ«n (a.s.) says,
“Avoid falsehood, whether it is small or big, in solemnity or jest.”
(al-KÄfi)
Hazrat Amir ul-Mu’minÄ«n (a.s.) said,
“No man can taste faith, till the time he completely forgoes lying, in solemnity and in jest.”
(al-KÄfi)
It is also related from Amir ul-Mu’minÄ«n (a.s.) that he said:
“There is no merit in falsehood, whether in seriousness or in jest. Do not even promise your child something if you do not intend to fulfill it. Certainly, falsehood leads man to sin (fearlessly) and (this) leads to the Fire.”
(Wasa’il ul-Shia)
The Holy Prophet (S) in his advice to Abu Zar Ghaffari (r.a.) says:
“O Abu Zar one who protects his private parts and his tongue shall enter Paradise. One who utters a small falsehood in company of people to make them laugh, that same lie shall take him towards Hell.”
“O Abu Zar, woe be upon the one who speaks falsehood to make people laugh. Woe be upon him woe be upon him O Abu Zar. One who remains silent will obtain salvation. Then silence is a must for you (in place of falsehood). Not even the smallest lie should be uttered by you.”
Abu Zar (r.a.) says that he asked,
“O Messenger of Allah, what is the repentance of the one who has intentionally spoken a lie?”
The Holy Prophet (S) replied:
“The sin shall be erased by Istighfar (seeking forgiveness) and by the five-times prayers.”
(Wasa’il ul-Shia)
The Prophet of Allah (S) is quoted to have also said:
“Curse be upon the liar if he has lied in jest.”
It is also narrated from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he remarked,
“I guarantee a house in the best part of Paradise for one who refrains from a dispute even when he is on the right, and a house in the medium-grade area of Heaven for one who refrains from falsehood even in jest, and a house in the garden of Paradise for a person with the best morals.”
(KhisÄl)
Lying in jest is a sin but it is not a greater sin. However if this joke hurts the feelings of a believer or causes him physical harm or is an insult to him, it will be a greater sin.
