In a person's speech, when he jokes with his friends and loved ones, some lying is included for the sake of laughter. Is there any prohibition in this lying?
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The questioner : In a person's speech, when he jokes with his friends and loved ones, some lying is included for the sake of laughter. Is there any prohibition in this in Islam?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is forbidden in Islam, because all lying is forbidden, and one must beware of it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It was also reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Bulugh al-Maram 16:80.
Therefore, one must beware of all lying, whether to make people laugh, in jest, or in earnest. If a person accustoms himself to truthfulness and seeking truthfulness, he will become truthful in his outward appearance and his inner self. For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1971Sahih (Darussalam).
It is not hidden from us all the results of truthfulness. Here is Ka'b ibn Malik and his two companions, Hilal ibn Umayyah and Murarah ibn al-Rabi' (may Allah be pleased with them), who told the truth to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when they lagged behind the expedition to Tabuk and informed him that they had no excuse. So what was the outcome for them?
The outcome was that verses from the Book of Allah were revealed, containing praise for them and a command to follow their example. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:117-118] The mention of repentance was singled out for these three, even though the story was one, because of the great truthfulness that came from them. [At-Tawbah 9:118-119] So it was for these three men who told the truth to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that these verses were revealed concerning them. The middle verse of these three verses was revealed specifically for them, stating that Allah the Exalted turned to them in repentance and praised their mention in a Book that is recited, even in prayers and sermons, until the Day of Resurrection.
So, O my Muslim brother, adhere to truthfulness and seek truthfulness in what is between you and Allah and in what is between you and the servants of Allah. Beware of lying, for lying, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us: Do not say that I bring joy to people with the false stories I tell to make them laugh, for the harm of this is great for you and for them. Bring them joy with the beneficial, true stories you know that benefit them by increasing their faith and their desire for good, such as mentioning what you know of the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and other things that are known in the books written on that subject.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is forbidden in Islam, because all lying is forbidden, and one must beware of it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will continue to tell the truth and seek truthfulness until he is recorded by Allah as a truthful one. And beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man will continue to lie and seek lying until he is recorded by Allah as a liar.
عليكم بالصدق فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة ، ولا يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقاً ، وإياكم والكذب فإن الكذب يهدي إلى الفجور وإن الفجور يهدي إلى النار ، ولا يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب حتى يكتب عند الله كذاباًWoe to him who lies in his talk to make the people laugh, Woe to him! Woe to him!
ويل لمن كذب ليضحك به القوم ويل له ثم ويل لهTherefore, one must beware of all lying, whether to make people laugh, in jest, or in earnest. If a person accustoms himself to truthfulness and seeking truthfulness, he will become truthful in his outward appearance and his inner self. For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A man continues telling the truth and trying hard to tell the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person.
ولا يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقاًIt is not hidden from us all the results of truthfulness. Here is Ka'b ibn Malik and his two companions, Hilal ibn Umayyah and Murarah ibn al-Rabi' (may Allah be pleased with them), who told the truth to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when they lagged behind the expedition to Tabuk and informed him that they had no excuse. So what was the outcome for them?
The outcome was that verses from the Book of Allah were revealed, containing praise for them and a command to follow their example. Allah the Exalted said:
(117) Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajireen and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful. (118) And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.
لقد تاب الله على النبي والمهاجرين والأنصار الذين اتبعوه في ساعة العسرة من بعد ما كاد يزيغ قلوب فريق منهم ثم تاب عليهم إنه بهم رؤوف رحيم ، وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا(118) And [He also forgave] the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (119) O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.
وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا حتى إذا ضاقت عليهم الأرض بما رحبت وضاقت عليهم أنفسهم وظنوا أن لا ملجأ من الله إليه ثم تاب عليهم ليتوبوا إن الله هو التواب الرحيم ، يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقينSo, O my Muslim brother, adhere to truthfulness and seek truthfulness in what is between you and Allah and in what is between you and the servants of Allah. Beware of lying, for lying, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us: