Truthfulness and Lying
Total Hadiths 18
Prophetic Teachings on Honesty, Hypocrisy, and Truthfulness
In Islamic ethics, truthfulness forms the bedrock of character, while lying and deception are severely discouraged. The provided authentic traditions emphasize that honesty must guide human interactions. According to these teachings, a person who displays a double face—showing one identity to a group and another elsewhere—is considered among the worst of people due to their deceptive nature. However, Islam places a high value on social harmony and peace. For this reason, certain narrow exceptions are granted where a altered narrative is permitted to bring about reconciliation between conflicting parties, during times of battle, or to foster love and peace between a husband and a wife. Authentic scholars emphasize that these exceptions are meant solely to prevent greater harm and build unity among people.
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . مِثْلَهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّفِي حَدِيثِ صَالِحٍ وَقَالَتْ وَلَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ يُرَخِّصُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِمَّا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ إِلاَّ فِي ثَلاَثٍ . بِمِثْلِ مَا جَعَلَهُ يُونُسُ مِنْ قَوْلِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab with the same chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2605bIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 131USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6304
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ " وَنَمَى خَيْرًا " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ مَا بَعْدَهُ .
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Zuhri with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2605cIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 132USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6305
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ مِنْ شَرِّ النَّاسِ ذَا الْوَجْهَيْنِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي هَؤُلاَءِ بِوَجْهٍ وَهَؤُلاَءِ بِوَجْهٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The worst amongst the people is the double-faced one; he comes to some people with one face and to others with the other face.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2526cIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 127USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6300
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ عِرَاكِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " إِنَّ شَرَّ النَّاسِ ذُو الْوَجْهَيْنِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي هَؤُلاَءِ بِوَجْهٍ وَهَؤُلاَءِ بِوَجْهٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported that he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The worst amongst people is one with the double face. He comes to some people with one face and to others with the other face.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2526dIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 128USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6301
حَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَجِدُونَ مِنْ شَرِّ النَّاسِ ذَا الْوَجْهَيْنِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي هَؤُلاَءِ بِوَجْهٍ وَهَؤُلاَءِ بِوَجْهٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: You will find the worst amongst the people one having double face. He comes to some people with one face and to the others with the other face.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2526eIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 129USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6302
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ مِنْ شَرِّ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ذَا الْوَجْهَيْنِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ وَعَمَّارٍ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "Indeed Among The Worst Of People To Allah, On The Day Of Judgment, Is The Two Faced Person."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2025In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 131English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 2025
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ بْنِ هَارُونَ الْغَسَّانِيِّ حَدَّثَكُمْ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا كَذَبَ الْعَبْدُ تَبَاعَدَ عَنْهُ الْمَلَكُ مِيلاً مِنْ نَتْنِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ " . قَالَ يَحْيَى فَأَقَرَّ بِهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ هَارُونَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ هَارُونَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "When The Slave (Of Allah) Lies, The Angel Goes A Mile Away From Him Because Of The Stench Of What He Has Done." Yahya Said: "(I Asked) 'Abdur-Rahim Bin Harun If He Approved Of It, And He Said 'Yes'."
[1] Meaning, Yahyā recited it to ‘Abdur-Raḥīm, on his authority, that he heard it from ‘Abdul-‘Azīz... and ‘Abdur-Raḥīm said yes, meaning it was narrated to me like that.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1972In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 78English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1972
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ خُلُقٌ أَبْغَضَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنَ الْكَذِبِ وَلَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُحَدِّثُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْكِذْبَةِ فَمَا يَزَالُ فِي نَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَحْدَثَ مِنْهَا تَوْبَةً . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
A'isha Narrated from:
There Was No Behavior More Hated To The Messenger Of Allah Than Lying. A Man Would Lie In Narrating Something In The Presence Of The Prophet, And He Would Not Be Content Until He Knew That He Had Repented.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1973In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 79English translation : Vol. 4, Book 1, Hadith 1973
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَصْدُقُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ صِدِّيقًا وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَكْذِبُ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ كَذَّابًا " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Truth leads one to Paradise and virtue leads one to Paradise and the person tells the truth until he is recorded as truthful, and lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell, and the person tells a lie until he is recorded as a liar.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2607aIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 134USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6307
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَمَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صِدِّيقًا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ وَمَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَذَّابًا " .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: It is obligatory for you to tell the truth, for truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise, and the man who continues to speak the truth and endeavours to tell the truth is eventually recorded as truthful with Allah, and beware of telling of a lie for telling of a lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire, and the person who keeps telling lies and endeavours to tell a lie is recorded as a liar with Allah.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2607cIn-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 136USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 32, Hadith 6309
