—has committed false testimony; likewise, testifying that a man is poor and therefore entitled to zakat while knowing that he is actually wealthy, or what some people do before government offices—testifying that so-and-so supports a family of such-and-such size while knowing this is a lie. Examples of such conduct are many. The poor soul who gives false testimony imagines he is helping his brother and showing him kindness, yet in reality he is wronging himself and wronging his brother.

His injustice toward himself is obvious, for he has incurred sin and committed a major offense. His injustice toward his brother lies in granting him what he does not deserve, thereby enabling him to take wealth unlawfully. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Support your brother, whether he is an oppressor or is oppressed.” They asked, “Messenger of Allah, we understand supporting the oppressed, but how do we support the oppressor?” He replied, “By preventing him from oppression—that is your support for him.” Thus those who bear false witness—may Allah protect us—fancy that they are benefiting their brothers, but in fact they harm both themselves and their brothers.

The author next cites verses—some mentioned earlier and some not—saying: Allah the Exalted declares, “So shun the filth of idols, and shun false speech” (22:30). The foremost instance of “false speech” is false testimony. Allah has placed it alongside the filth of idols—that is, alongside polytheism—showing the gravity of false testimony. He also says, “And those who do not bear false witness” (25:72), praising them; and if abstaining from bearing false witness earns praise, then refraining from uttering it in any form is even more deserving. Since not bearing false testimony is commendable, it follows that false testimony—