swear truthfully by other than Allah.”

In another wording:

“I would rather swear falsely by Allah than make such a comparison.”

Swearing by other than Allah is shirk, and shirk is graver than lying. At its gravest, lying is likened to shirk, as in the authentic hadith in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“False testimony has been equated with associating partners with Allah.”

He said this twice or three times, then recited the words of Allah Most High:

“And avoid false speech.”

“Devoting yourselves to Allah, associating nothing with Him. Whoever associates partners with Allah—it is as though he had fallen from the sky and been snatched away by birds, or swept by the wind to a distant place.”

Yet this prohibited—indeed, unlawful—act, which the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, regarded as graver than a false oath, has been considered by some scholars to be religiously sanctioned and not prohibited. There are many similar examples. But Allah Most High says:

“Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is best and gives the finest outcome.”

Whatever Allah and His Messenger command is the truth. He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prohibited swearing by other than Allah, praying at sunrise and sunset, taking graves as places of prayer, and making his grave a place of recurring observance. He also prohibited undertaking journeys to places other than the three mosques, and similar practices, to ensure that devotion is sincerely for Allah and that Allah alone is worshipped, without any partner. All of this is to safeguard