The Ruling on False Testimony
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
I move on to another questioner, a brother named Badr from al-Qway'iyah. He asks about the ruling on false testimony, and whether it falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Isra 17:36]?
Answer:
Yes, false testimony is among the greatest of major sins and is one of the destructive sins, meaning the ones that destroy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) counted it among the seven destructive sins, along with the greatest of major sins. It has dangers: first, it involves the squandering of the witness's trust; second, it involves the loss of people's rights. A judgment may be made based on his testimony, and the money of the wronged person may be taken and given to the claimant on the basis of his testimony. He may even cause the shedding of blood because of his false testimony.
And so on. His wealth may be taken. And so on, regarding these dangers. It is reported in the hadith: until the Fire becomes obligatory for him. Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He, says: [Az-Zukhruf 43:86] Testimony must be based on knowledge. One does not testify except to what he knows. [Yusuf 12:81].
So one does not testify except to what he knows, and does not testify to what he does not know; he refrains from this. It is obligatory for the Muslim to respect testimony, and not to testify except to what is good and truthful, and only when necessary. Testimony is not a matter of rushing in, as some ignorant people think, who do not testify because they think there is no good in it, or that they are not helping their brothers and community. No, this is forbidden, it is not permissible. This is not help; this is helping in evil, and it is not in the interest of those for whom testimony is given. The Muslim refrains from false testimony, and he magnifies testimony with its due magnification, and he does not proceed with it unless he is asked to do so, and he has knowledge and valid testimony, or he fears that a right will be lost. If the one who has the right does not know that you have testimony, you disclose it so that the right is not lost. Apart from these two cases, it is not permissible for you to rush in. In the hadith: Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
I move on to another questioner, a brother named Badr from al-Qway'iyah. He asks about the ruling on false testimony, and whether it falls under the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌAnswer:
Yes, false testimony is among the greatest of major sins and is one of the destructive sins, meaning the ones that destroy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) counted it among the seven destructive sins, along with the greatest of major sins. It has dangers: first, it involves the squandering of the witness's trust; second, it involves the loss of people's rights. A judgment may be made based on his testimony, and the money of the wronged person may be taken and given to the claimant on the basis of his testimony. He may even cause the shedding of blood because of his false testimony.
And so on. His wealth may be taken. And so on, regarding these dangers. It is reported in the hadith:
The foot of the false witness will not move on the Day of Resurrection until the Fire becomes obligatory for him.
لا تزول قدم شاهد الزور يوم القيامة حتى تجب له النار.but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know.
إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَand we did not testify except to what we knew
وَمَا شَهِدْنَا إِلَّا بِمَا عَلِمْنَاSo one does not testify except to what he knows, and does not testify to what he does not know; he refrains from this. It is obligatory for the Muslim to respect testimony, and not to testify except to what is good and truthful, and only when necessary. Testimony is not a matter of rushing in, as some ignorant people think, who do not testify because they think there is no good in it, or that they are not helping their brothers and community. No, this is forbidden, it is not permissible. This is not help; this is helping in evil, and it is not in the interest of those for whom testimony is given. The Muslim refrains from false testimony, and he magnifies testimony with its due magnification, and he does not proceed with it unless he is asked to do so, and he has knowledge and valid testimony, or he fears that a right will be lost. If the one who has the right does not know that you have testimony, you disclose it so that the right is not lost. Apart from these two cases, it is not permissible for you to rush in. In the hadith:
People will come in the last times, testifying before they are asked to testify; the testimony of one of them will precede his oath.
أن الناس يأتون في آخر الزمان يشهدون قبل أن يستشهدوا تسبق شهادة أحدهم يمينه.The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/254 — archive.org (12:18)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.