LYING IS A GREATER SIN

Lying or its derivatives have been used in the Glorious Qur’an 282 times. Lying is one of the Greater Sins. Some of the Ayahs of the Glorious Qur’an prohibiting lie are stated below:

Allah does not guide the liars and the unbelievers. (Surah al-Zumar Ayah3)

And pray to Allah to condemn the liars among us. (Surah Ale Imran Ayah 61)

Allah is my witness that he is a liar. (Surah al-Nur Ayah 8)

O you who believe! If an evil-doer (liar) comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.” (Surah al-Hujuraa’t Ayah 6)

Only they forge the lie who do not believe in the signs of Allah. (Surah al-Nahal Ayah 105)

In fact, Shaitan was the first liar, when he told a lie to Adam, “I am your sincere adviser” (Surah al-A’raf Ayah 21)

THE NOBLE MESSENGER (S.A.W.A.S.) SAID:

Anas ibn Malik narrates that he (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “Accept six things from me, then I will accept (and guarantee) the entrance of Heaven for you:

               When you speak, tell no lies.

               When you promise, do not break it.

               When you are trusted (by others), be honest.

               Lower your eyes (from committing sin)

               Guard your modesty.

               Hold your hands and tongues. (Khisal al-Saduq page 321)

A man asked the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), “Which action makes highest number of people the inmates of Hell? He (s.a.w.a.s.) replied, “Lying. When a believer speaks a lie, he becomes prone to commit every other sin; and when this happens, he commits kufr (disbelief) which then makes him enter Hell.” (Mustadrak al-Wasa’il)

THE GATEWAY OF KNOWLEDGE, COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL, IMAM ALI (A.S.) SAID:

What your eyes sees is truth and what your ears hear is for the most part untruth. Friendship is impossible with a liar. Being mute is better than lying.

THE INFALLIBLE IMAM HASAN AL-ASKARI (A.S.) SAID:

Wickedness was put inside a house, and the key (of its door) was rendered to be lies. (Bihar-ul-Anwar v. 72 page 263)

Haji Nuri has collected many Ayahs and Traditions into forty points which may be seen in the book “The Greater sins” by Ayatollah Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib.

There are Greatest Sins which include uttering falsehood against Allah (s.w.t.), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), the Imams of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Every kind of lie is Haram (prohibited), hence interpreting the Qur’anic Ayahs and attributing any saying to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) to suit oneself is Haram.

Lying has some adverse effects on physical health also. Lying increases worries and stress. It produces Cortisol which in turn increases blood sugar and suppresses the immune system. It also produces Norepinephrine which starts the “flight or fight” response making the heart rate accelerate and blood pressure goes up.

Sources used: The Glorious Qur’an, A Bundle of Flowers by Sayyid Faqih Imani, Greater Sins by Ayatollah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib, ezsoftech.com, Dua-e-Kumayl, Sacredtexts.com