His words: “Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” [al-Ahzāb: 35]

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked, ‘Can a believer be cowardly and miserly?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ He was asked, ‘Can a believer be a habitual liar?’ He replied, ‘No.’” That is, he cannot be a believer whose faith merits praise, for lying is wickedness.

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd used to say: “Adhere to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire.” Do you not see that people say, “He spoke truthfully and acted righteously,” and, “He lied and acted wickedly”? Thus, the Prophet ﷺ expressly indicated that cowardice and miserliness are less serious than lying.

It is also reported that ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd used to say: “A servant continues to lie, and a black mark is made upon his heart, until his heart becomes black and he is recorded with Allah as one of the liars.”

It has been related that ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Adhere to truthfulness, even if you think it will bring about your destruction.” This means supposing that this will happen without being certain of it, for the word rendered “think” may denote either doubt or certainty. This concerns matters in which a man must speak the truth openly, because of the righteousness and good he hopes truthfulness will bring, and the evil and corruption he fears lying will bring—such as speaking before a ruler and similar situations. In such matters he must speak the truth openly, even if he fears that doing so may bring about his destruction, so long as he is not certain that telling the truth will destroy him. This applies even if he fears the consequences for himself of what his words entail regarding obligations enforceable against him in cases of killing, theft, unlawful sexual intercourse, and the like.

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Lying is prohibited and forbidden in general, and it falls into five categories: