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It is said in islam that one should always speak the truth no matter what the consequences.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

hello,

it is said in islam that one should always speak the truth no matter what the consequences. but here is my question:

for example if u got to a party and the host cooks food and you dont like the food too much, and later after the party when the host asks you if u liked the food or not, should you tell the truth and say you didnt like the food or should you lie and say you liked it.
Basically, my question is, lying to prevent someone from feeling bad or feeling sad or feeling hurt, if one lies so that someone`s feelings wont be hurt, is that allowed in islam or no 

 

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Answer:

 

Speak the truth always liar

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135:

135 O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice (and Truth) as witnesses to Allah even as against yourselves or your parents or your kin and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice and truth) or decline to do justice; verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 5 Surah Maidah verse 8:

8 O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah for Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

 

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, the religion of Truth guides those who have professed belief in Allah and the Last Day to always, and we reiterate, always fear Allah and stand on the side of the Truth, even if that truth is against oneself, one’s interests, or against one’s loved ones.

 

It simply would neither behove nor befit nor would it be in alignment with the character of a believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, to utter a lie to gain a paltry benefit for himself or his loved ones.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.116 Narrated by Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said, "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man keeps on telling the truth until he is recorded with Allah as ‘a truthful person’. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing, etc.), and Al-Fajur leads to the (Hell) Fire! A man may keep on telling lies till he is recorded before Allah, ‘a liar’."

 

Al-Muwatta Hadith 56.11

Malik related from Zayd ibn Aslam from Ata ibn Yasar that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Whomever Allah protects from the evil of two things will enter the Garden. They are what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, what is between his jaws and what is between his legs!!!."

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.799 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad

The Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i.e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise."

 

Thus my beloved brother, Islam guides and commands its followers to always stand on the side of the Truth, even if the consequences of the stating the Truth might be against oneself or the interests of oneself or one’s loved ones.

 

Having being commanded to always speak and stand on the side of the Truth, there are a few specific instances and circumstances where Allah and His Messenger (saws) have allowed the believers to (so to say) ‘bend’ the truth…for a lie said in these specific circumstances and situations would not be considered a lie in the Sight of Allah Subhanah:

 

Ref-1: In the state of ‘war’:

Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 2631 Narrated byKa'b ibn Malik

When the Prophet (saws) intended to go on an expedition, he (saws) always pretended to be going somewhere else, and he (saws) would say: “War is deception!”

 

Ref-2: One who says a ‘lie’ to make peace or put relations right between people.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.857 Narrated by Um Kulthum bint Uqba

That she heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar."

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4902 Narrated byUmm Kulthum bint Uqbah al-Umawiyyah

The Prophet (saws) said: “He who forged in order to put things right between two persons did not lie.” The version by Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Musaddad states the the Prophet (saws) declared: “The liar is not the one who puts things right between people, saying what is good and increasing good.”

 

Your Question: for example if u got to a party and the host cooks food and you dont like the food too much, and later after the party when the host asks you if u liked the food or not, should you tell the truth and say you didnt like the food or should you lie and say you liked it.
If in such a particular situation a believer does not speak the truth and informs the host that the food was terrible, but rather takes the opportunity to praise Allah and thank his host for taking the trouble to prepare the food, or host the party, or for honoring and inviting him to participate in the gathering……in light of the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), it will not constitute a lie in the Sight of Shariah Law and of Allah Subhanah, Insha Allah.

 

Your Question: Basically, my question is, lying to prevent someone from feeling bad or feeling sad or feeling hurt, if one lies so that someone`s feelings wont be hurt, is that allowed in islam or no ?

Beloved brother, the above listed guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he permitted the believers to forge a ‘lie’ in order to put relations right between people cannot be taken as a license or a justification to utter a ‘lie’, unless it helps put relationships aright between two estranged parties or helps in not harming an already good relationship between two parties.

 

If one is put in a situation or asked a particular question whereby if the absolute truth were told it would hurt a good relationship between two people, and the person ‘dodged’ the question and gave an answer which did not contain the full truth with the sole intention of not hurting the feeling or relationship of the party….it is expected that Allah Subhanah, Who Knows the secrets of the hearts of each in His creation, would not hold him responsible for his statements of untruth.

 

But if one were to ‘lie’ with the intention of gaining any personal benefit for oneself or one’s loved one, or avoid saying the ‘truth’ when speaking the truth was required, it will indeed constitute a lie in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

 

Beloved brother in Islam, one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, should always always fear Allah Subhanah, and always stand on the side of the Truth and strive never ever to utter a ‘lie’ unless it be in a state of ‘war’ or if it helps to put relations right between two estranged parties; for that would not constitute a lie in the Sight of Allah Subhanah. But if one lies to gain any personal benefit for himself or his loved one’s, or makes it a habit to utter lies for no reason whatsoever, he should fear being recorded as a ‘liar’ in the record with Allah Subhanah! Allah is our witness brother, it would be prudent and wise and closer to piety to err on the side of caution when one is put in a situation to utter a lie!

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

 

Burhan

 


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