False testimony and the legal rulings that follow from it

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta

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Fatwa number ( 6739 )
Q: Please advise us, may Allah reward you, with what Allah has taught you regarding false testimony and the legal rulings that follow from it?
A: False testimony is forbidden and is one of the major sins. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said thrice, "Shall I not inform you of the biggest of the great sins?" We said, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)" He said, "To join partners in worship with Allah: to be undutiful to one's parents." The Prophet (ﷺ) sat up after he had been reclining and added, "And I warn you against giving forged statement and a false witness; I warn you against giving a forged statement and a false witness." The Prophet kept on saying that warning till we thought that he would not stop.

ألا أنبئكم بأكبر الكبائر؟ - ثلاثا - قلنا: بلى يا رسول الله، قال: الإشراك بالله، وعقوق الوالدين، وكان متكئا فجلس، فقال: ألا وقول الزور وشهادة الزور، ألا وقول الزور وشهادة الزور، فما زال يقولها حتى قلت: لا يسكت

Sahih al-Bukhari 5976

. A ruling based on false testimony appears to make something lawful, but in reality it does not; rather, it is a piece of the Fire that the claimant cuts out with that testimony. If it is established that a person gave false testimony, the one in authority should punish him with what he deems appropriate. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

Source www.alifta.gov.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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