saima abdullah
my life iz 4 Allah
"It was just a little lie?"
Eisa Graham
I can already hear you scream, "What is wrong with being nice to people? It makes the world a better place". True, I do agree that being nice does make the world a better place, but having to lie every minute of the day to achieve such is putting the world backwards not forward.
Just look at our children. Not only are the ones we cherish so much getting exposed to sex, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and violence at a younger age through things such as media and video games but they are losing their innocence also when it comes to moral and religious value. As soon as the child is old enough to talk they are older enough to lie or tell "tall tales" to their parents and relatives; and one of the root causes for such problems start in the child's very own house. Sadly the children learn from mum and dad who say "I will do it tomorrow" and "I'll be there in a minute mate". But that tomorrow never comes and neither does that minute. Once this happens on a regular basis the child learns that lying is the norm and telling the truth is nice but not really helpful.
Islam on the other hand looks at lying differently. Look to the some of the great scholars of Islam such as al-Hafiz Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Uthman al-Dhahabi and Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab when speaking about al-Kabaa'ir (The Major Sins) and you will find discussion about the position of lying in Islam.
Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Muhajjid has stated that: - "Being truthful is one of the necessities of a human society, one of the virtues of human behaviour, and brings great benefits, whilst lying is one of the major elements of corruption in human society, and the cause of the destruction of social structure and ties, one of the most evil features of bad conduct, and causes widespread harm. Hence Islam commanded truthfulness and forbade lying."
The Messenger of Allah said: 'You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Jannah (Paradise). A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allah as a siddeeq (speaker of the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Jahannam (Hellfire). A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar." (Imam Muslim)
Not only has the Messenger of Allah in the above hadith warned us of the immorality and social destruction that comes from lying but so have our Creator and Sustainer who only wants good for His creation. Allah says in the holy Quran (interpretation of the meaning):- [Better for them would have been] Obedience and good words. And when the matter was determined, if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them. (47:21)
And the beautiful words of Ka'b ibn Malik when he said after Allah accepted his repentance for not participating in the Battle of Tabuk (with a legitimate reason): "By Allah, since Allah guide me to Islam, there has been no blessing more significant for me then this truth of mine which I spoke to the Messenger of Allah and if were to tell a lie I would have been ruined as were ruined those who had told lies, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else" (Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim).
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam if you do not care for yourself, atleast think of your children and society next time you decide to go through a few small lies left and right. Things that often seem insignificant at first glance may be deceiving and even worse, lead to destruction.
As our lying has a grave effect on our Ummah, so does speaking truthful words. We can look at just one story such as that of Ka'b ibn Malik mentioned about from so many angels. How many of us have flicked the pages of Riyad us-Saliheen, read his story and felt instantly compelled to the repentance of Allah and truthfulness that our Messenger always taught.
Allah has said:- Then as for him whose Balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, He will live a pleasant life (in Paradise). (101:6-7)
And:- But for him who fears standing before his Rabb there will be two Gardens. (55:46)
May Allah the almighty make us of those who follow the best of examples and always speak the truth.
">
A white lie n a minor or unimportant lie, esp. one uttered to the interests of tact or politeness. (Collins Concise Dictionary, 5th Australia Edition)
Today's society dictates that telling a lie
Eisa Graham
I can already hear you scream, "What is wrong with being nice to people? It makes the world a better place". True, I do agree that being nice does make the world a better place, but having to lie every minute of the day to achieve such is putting the world backwards not forward.
Just look at our children. Not only are the ones we cherish so much getting exposed to sex, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and violence at a younger age through things such as media and video games but they are losing their innocence also when it comes to moral and religious value. As soon as the child is old enough to talk they are older enough to lie or tell "tall tales" to their parents and relatives; and one of the root causes for such problems start in the child's very own house. Sadly the children learn from mum and dad who say "I will do it tomorrow" and "I'll be there in a minute mate". But that tomorrow never comes and neither does that minute. Once this happens on a regular basis the child learns that lying is the norm and telling the truth is nice but not really helpful.
Islam on the other hand looks at lying differently. Look to the some of the great scholars of Islam such as al-Hafiz Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Uthman al-Dhahabi and Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab when speaking about al-Kabaa'ir (The Major Sins) and you will find discussion about the position of lying in Islam.
Sheikh Muhammad Salih al-Muhajjid has stated that: - "Being truthful is one of the necessities of a human society, one of the virtues of human behaviour, and brings great benefits, whilst lying is one of the major elements of corruption in human society, and the cause of the destruction of social structure and ties, one of the most evil features of bad conduct, and causes widespread harm. Hence Islam commanded truthfulness and forbade lying."
The Messenger of Allah said: 'You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Jannah (Paradise). A man will keep speaking the truth and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allah as a siddeeq (speaker of the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Jahannam (Hellfire). A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar." (Imam Muslim)
Not only has the Messenger of Allah in the above hadith warned us of the immorality and social destruction that comes from lying but so have our Creator and Sustainer who only wants good for His creation. Allah says in the holy Quran (interpretation of the meaning):- [Better for them would have been] Obedience and good words. And when the matter was determined, if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them. (47:21)
And the beautiful words of Ka'b ibn Malik when he said after Allah accepted his repentance for not participating in the Battle of Tabuk (with a legitimate reason): "By Allah, since Allah guide me to Islam, there has been no blessing more significant for me then this truth of mine which I spoke to the Messenger of Allah and if were to tell a lie I would have been ruined as were ruined those who had told lies, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else" (Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim).
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam if you do not care for yourself, atleast think of your children and society next time you decide to go through a few small lies left and right. Things that often seem insignificant at first glance may be deceiving and even worse, lead to destruction.
As our lying has a grave effect on our Ummah, so does speaking truthful words. We can look at just one story such as that of Ka'b ibn Malik mentioned about from so many angels. How many of us have flicked the pages of Riyad us-Saliheen, read his story and felt instantly compelled to the repentance of Allah and truthfulness that our Messenger always taught.
Allah has said:- Then as for him whose Balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, He will live a pleasant life (in Paradise). (101:6-7)
And:- But for him who fears standing before his Rabb there will be two Gardens. (55:46)
May Allah the almighty make us of those who follow the best of examples and always speak the truth.
">
A white lie n a minor or unimportant lie, esp. one uttered to the interests of tact or politeness. (Collins Concise Dictionary, 5th Australia Edition)
Today's society dictates that telling a lie