Why Is Lying Identified as a Key to Many Sins in Islamic Teachings?
Lying is not limited to distorting the truth; this moral vice can erode social trust and lead a person astray, away from spiritual values. The Holy Quran and the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), in strongly condemning lying, have spoken of its worldly and otherworldly consequences, ranging from loss of social standing and poverty to the weakening of faith and the spread of hypocrisy.
According to the Missionary Thought and Culture Base, lying is one of the moral vices that are strongly condemned in Islamic teachings and its consequences include the individual, social and spiritual dimensions of human life. The Holy Qur'an and the traditions of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) have warned about the effects of this unsavory behavior and have spoken about the consequences such as the reduction of social trust, the weakening of faith, the spread of hypocrisy, and the deprivation of divine guidance; The consequences show that lying is not only a linguistic misbehavior, but it can also lead a person's life away from honesty and salvation.
lies One of the greatest sins
According to the Shia tradition, before examining the consequences of lying in the worldly and afterlife, it is necessary to pay attention to the position of this sin in Islamic teachings. In several traditions, lying is introduced as one of the major sins and warnings are given about its harmful effects.
In a narration of the beloved Prophet of Islam (PBUH), three of the biggest major sins are mentioned. First of all, that Prophet said: "The greatest sins are three things: polytheism with God and disobedience to parents." Then, while they were reclining, they suddenly sat down and said: "Ala and the saying of Al-Zur and the testimony of Al-Zur"; Know that telling lies and testifying falsely are also major sins.[1]
In another narrative, lies are introduced as the key to enter evil. Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) says: "The creation of evil in the house and the creation of falsehood"; All the filth is placed in a house and the key to that house is a lie.[2]
Imam Baqir (a.s.) also introduced wine and lies as bad keys and considered lies to be worse than wine: Lying is evil from wine"; God has placed locks for evil and the keys to these locks are wine and lies, and lies are worse than wine.[3]
The sum of these narrations shows that lying in Islamic culture is not just a slip of the tongue, but a deep-rooted behavior with the capacity to spread moral corruption and lay the foundation for committing other sins.
Consequences of lying in worldly life
The effects of lies are not limited to the spiritual and afterlife; This behavior can affect social relationships, economic status and even the daily functioning of a person. In Islamic narrations, various consequences for lying have been mentioned, and we will discuss the most important ones below.
One of the consequences mentioned in the narrations for lying is poverty and hardship. Imam Ali (a.s.) says: "The habit of lying is the inheritance of poverty"; Getting used to lying leads to poverty.[4]
This narrative emphasizes the negative consequences of continuing to lie. From the point of view of Islamic ethics, honesty is one of the foundations of trust in human relationships, and the weakening of this trust can harm personal and social relationships. Accordingly, abandoning lies and sticking to the truth is one of the important principles of moral life.
One of the other consequences mentioned in some narrations for lying is forgetfulness. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: "This is what Allah revealed to the liars." One of the things that God uses to trap liars is forgetfulness.[5]
This phrase in some translations also means that forgetfulness is one of God's tools to deal with liars. According to this perception, forgetting is not a privilege for a liar, but a factor against him and causes contradictions in his words to be revealed.
In order to hide the truth, the liar may have to change his previous words or add new content to the previous statements. The continuation of this situation increases the possibility of contradicting and revealing the truth.
An example of this situation can be seen in the story of Prophet Yusuf and his brothers. When Joseph's brothers threw him in the well, they stained his shirt with blood and came to the father to claim that the wolf had torn him apart. The Holy Qur'an narrates this incident as follows: They stained his shirt with fake blood and brought him to his father.[6]
The expression "false tail" refers to the falseness of the blood and shows that the sign that Yusuf's brothers presented to support their claim was not consistent with reality. In the explanation of this phrase, it is said that the term "false" is used here to emphasize the obviousness of the lie.
This incident is an example of an attempt to cover the truth with signs and deception; An attempt that cannot hide the reality forever.
3. Scandal and loss of social credibility
Trust is one of the most important human assets in social relations. Lying can destroy this capital and reduce one's credibility in the eyes of others. Therefore, in Islamic traditions, lying is associated with slander and loss of value and social status.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) says: "Do not lie, for lying will cover the face"; Avoid lying; Because lying causes corruption.[7]
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) also says: "Don't lie about your religion"; Do not lie so that your value and credibility do not disappear. [8]
According to these narrations, a lie does not only distort the truth of a matter, but it can also destroy the trust of others in the speaker. When a person is known to lie, even his true words may be questioned. In such a situation, it will be difficult to rebuild the lost trust.
The effects of lying in the spiritual and afterlife
The spiritual consequences of lying have a special place in Islamic teachings. The verses of the Quran and the traditions of Ahl al-Bayt (AS) show that the continuation of this behavior can lead a person away from the path of guidance and salvation. In the following, three of the most important spiritual consequences of lying are examined.
1. rejection of divine mercy and deprivation of salvation
In verses with a warning tone, the Holy Quran condemns liars and those who speak without knowledge and based on assumptions. It is stated in Surah Dhariyat: "The killing of the Kharrasoun"; Death to liars and speculators. [9]
The term "murder" in this verse is a reproachful term that implies rejection and deprivation of salvation. The word "Kharras" is also said to someone who speaks on the basis of speculation and without having knowledge and certainty; A word that can lead to lies and unfair relationships.
In the interpretation of this verse, one of the mentioned examples are those who cast doubts about Resurrection and Judgment Day with baseless words. From this point of view, the verse warns against those who, without a valid reason, make statements that distort the truth and lead others away from the right path.
2. Deprivation of eternal happiness and divine guidance
From the point of view of Islamic teachings, one of the heaviest consequences of sin is to move away from happiness and salvation in the afterlife. A lie is also a serious obstacle in the path of guidance and salvation, especially when it is attributed to God and religious truths.
The Holy Qur'an says about those who attribute lies to God: "Say that those who slander Allah do not succeed"; Say, those who lie to God will never be saved. [10]
This verse clearly emphasizes the serious consequences of slandering God. Lying about God distorts the truth of religion and can lead others astray; Therefore, such behavior is not compatible with happiness and salvation.
In the narrations, lies are introduced as a factor to lead people to other sins. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) says: "Iyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyh Avoid lies; Because a lie leads a person to sin and disobedience, and sin also leads a person to the fire.[11]
Accordingly, a lie can be the beginning of a chain of wrong behaviors; A chain that, if continued, takes a person away from the right path of life and salvation.
The Holy Qur'an also associates lying with weakness of faith and says: "Those who do not believe in the verses of Allah, and those are the liars"; Only those who lie to God are those who do not believe in His revelations, and they are the real liars.[12]
This verse was revealed in response to those who accused the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) of lying against changing some divine decrees. With the change of conditions and the replacement of some rulings, the opponents used this issue to raise doubts about the truthfulness of the Prophet (PBUH).
In response to these accusations, the Qur'an emphasizes the truthfulness of the Prophet (PBUH) and the revelation of divine revelation, and considers lying to God as a sign of lack of faith in divine revelations. Accordingly, there is a conflict between true faith and lying; Because faith calls a person to be honest and adhere to the truth.
Imam Ali (a.s.) also says: "The side of falsehood is the side of faith." Avoid lies; Because lying is not compatible with faith.[13]
Imam Baqir (a.s.) also says in a narration: "Indeed, falsehood is the destroyer of faith." A lie destroys faith.[14]
Along with these narrations, the Holy Quran also talks about depriving liars of divine guidance. It is stated in Surah Zamr: "Indeed, Allah does not guide any Jew who is a liar and an infidel"; God does not guide someone who is a liar and very ungrateful.[15]