that he has acquired a virtue which, in reality, he does not possess.

“And the one who wears two garments of falsehood” means: a person characterized by falsehood—someone who deceives people by adopting the outward appearance of the ascetics, the scholars, or the wealthy so that the public is taken in by him, even though he is nothing of the kind. Other explanations have been offered, and Allah knows best.

263 – Chapter: Clarifying how grave the prohibition of bearing false witness is

Allah the Exalted says, “So shun false speech” (1) [al-Ḥajj 22:30].

He also says, “Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge” [al-Isrāʾ 17:36].

He says, “No word does he utter but with him is an observer ready [to record it]” [Qāf 50:18].

He says, “Indeed, your Lord is ever watchful” (2) [al-Fajr 89:14].

And He says, “And those who do not bear false witness” [al-Furqān 25:72].

1558 – Abū Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Shall I not tell you of the gravest of the major sins?” We replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.” He had been reclining, but then he sat up and added, “And false speech,” repeating it again and again until we wished he would stop. Agreed upon.

264 – Chapter: The prohibition of cursing a particular person or an animal

1559 – Abū Zayd Thābit ibn al-Ḍaḥḥāk al-Anṣārī (may Allah be pleased with him), one of those who pledged at al-Riḍwān, reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever deliberately swears an oath, lying, by a religion other than Islam is exactly as he has said. Whoever kills himself with anything will be punished with it on the Day of Resurrection. A man is not bound by a vow concerning what he does not own, and cursing a believer is like killing him.” Agreed upon.