0/7. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 46 — Truthfulness and Best Guidance
Avoiding Bid'ah (innovation) and dispute
Hadith About Truthfulness, Lying, and Guidance
Sunan Ibn Majah : 46
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 46
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ الْمَدَنِيُّ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ " إِنَّمَا هُمَا اثْنَتَانِ الْكَلاَمُ وَالْهَدْىُ فَأَحْسَنُ الْكَلاَمِ كَلاَمُ اللَّهِ وَأَحْسَنُ الْهَدْىِ هَدْىُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَلاَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ شَرَّ الأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ أَلاَ لاَ يَطُولَنَّ عَلَيْكُمُ الأَمَدُ فَتَقْسُوَ قُلُوبُكُمْ أَلاَ إِنَّ مَا هُوَ آتٍ قَرِيبٌ وَإِنَّمَا الْبَعِيدُ مَا لَيْسَ بِآتٍ أَلاَ إِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ مَنْ شَقِيَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ وَالسَّعِيدَ مَنْ وُعِظَ بِغَيْرِهِ أَلاَ إِنَّ قِتَالَ الْمُؤْمِنِ كُفْرٌ وَسِبَابُهُ فُسُوقٌ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لِمُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَهْجُرَ أَخَاهُ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ أَلاَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ لاَ يَصْلُحُ بِالْجِدِّ وَلاَ بِالْهَزْلِ وَلاَ يَعِدِ الرَّجُلُ صَبِيَّهُ ثُمَّ لاَ يَفِيَ لَهُ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ وَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّهُ يُقَالُ لِلصَّادِقِ صَدَقَ وَبَرَّ . وَيُقَالُ لِلْكَاذِبِ كَذَبَ وَفَجَرَ . أَلاَ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يَكْذِبُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَذَّابًا " .
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Verily there are two things - words and guidance. The best words are the words of Allah, and the best guidance in the guidance of Muhammad. Beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation (Bid'ah) and every innovation is a going-stray. Do not let the desire for a long life causes your hearts to grow hard. That which is bound to happen is close to you, and the only thing that is far away is that which is not going to happen.The one who is doomed to Hell is doomed from his mother's womb, and the one who is destined for Paradise is the one who learns from the lessons of others. Killing a believer constitutes disbelief (Kufr) and verbally abusing him is immorality (Fusuq). It is not permissible for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three days.Beware of lying, for lying is never good, whether it is done seriously or in jest. A man should not make a promise to a child that he will not keep. Lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hell. Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. It will be said of the truthful person: 'He spoke the truth and was righteous', and it will be said of the liar, 'He told lies and was immoral.' "For a person continues to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 46In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 0English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 46
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 46
This is a broad Hadith about truthfulness and lying, while also teaching that the best words are the words of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The Prophet warns against newly-invented matters, hard hearts, abusing or killing a believer, and cutting off a Muslim brother for more than three days. A key part of the narration focuses on honesty. Lying is not treated as acceptable, whether serious or joking. Even promising a child something and not keeping it is mentioned. The Hadith explains that lying leads toward immorality, while truthfulness leads toward righteousness. It gives a strong moral path for speech, faith, and relations with other Muslims.
What we learn from this hadith
- The best words are the words of Allah.
- Truthfulness leads toward righteousness.
- Lying is warned against in serious speech and joking.
- A Muslim should not forsake his brother for more than three days.
