Such an assertion is false, for the revealed texts include no such qualification: they condemn lying in absolute terms. The Messenger ﷺ further clarified that lying leads to depravity. In other words, when a man lies in his speech, he keeps at it until—Allah forbid—it drives him to wickedness, meaning rebellion, disobedience, and abandoning submission. Depravity, in turn, leads to the Fire. Allah the Exalted says: “No indeed! The record of the wicked is in Sijjīn. And what can make you know what Sijjīn is? A register inscribed. Woe on that Day to the deniers, those who deny the Day of Recompense” (Qur’an 83:7-11).

He ﷺ then said, “A man continues to lie and deliberately seeks out falsehood until he is recorded with Allah as a liar,” that is, as one of the habitual liars—may Allah protect us all. When a person—may Allah keep us and you safe from this and every other sin—becomes accustomed to lying, he ends up lying about everything; the emphatic description fits him perfectly, and he is written with Allah as a liar.

As for truthfulness, the Prophet ﷺ urged it, saying: “Adhere to truthfulness; whenever you speak, speak the truth, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise.” Allah the Most High says: “No indeed! The record of the righteous is in ‘Illiyyīn. And what can make you know what ‘Illiyyīn is? A register inscribed, witnessed by those brought near” (Qur’an 83:18-21).

Thus, when a person is truthful and trains his tongue upon truth, that truthfulness guides him to righteousness, and righteousness, in turn, guides him to Paradise. A man continues to speak the truth and strive for it until he is recorded with Allah as a ṣiddīq—a person of unwavering truth. The rank of ṣiddīqiyya is an exalted station that immediately follows the station of prophethood, as Allah the Exalted says: “Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger, those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor: the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth…” (Qur’an 4:69).