Such a person forges an impression before the public by donning the dress of ascetics, scholars, or the wealthy so that people are taken in by him, even though he possesses none of those qualities. Other explanations have been offered, and Allah knows best.

[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—entitles this section of Riyad al-Salihin, “The Duty to Verify Whatever One Says or Relates.” After mentioning the prohibition of lying—defined as reporting something contrary to the facts—he follows it with this chapter to stress that a person must ascertain the accuracy of anything he transmits or utters, especially in times dominated by whims, endless chatter, and talk about events that may or may not have occurred.

To illustrate the point he cites Qur’anic verses and prophetic hadiths. Allah the Exalted says, “Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge” (al-Israʾ 17:36). In other words, do not follow—or speak about—anything for which you have no knowledge; speak only about what you truly know. The Prophet ﷺ likewise said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or else remain silent.” And Allah says, “He utters no word but that beside him is a watcher ready to record” (Qaf 50:18), meaning that there is always an observer who monitors what you say, ever-present and never absent. This is a warning against speaking on matters one does not know, for doing so is sinful.

The author then mentions relevant hadiths, among them: “It is enough for a man to be counted a liar that he repeats everything he hears.” That is, if a person relates whatever reaches his ears without verification or deliberation, he inevitably exposes himself to falsehood. This is exactly what we witness: someone comes to you and says, “Such-and-such happened,” yet when you look into it you find it never took place; or he claims, “So-and-so said such-and-such,” but once you investigate