By: Er Mohammad Ashraf Fazili (Former Chief Engineer, J&K Govt)
Lying is considered to be the root cause of all evils. This evil that we take easy has spread in our society, for which we are answerable on the day of judgment besides the loss of trust that we suffer during our lifetime. In many countries a liar is most hated person among them.
The Holy Quran says: “And Shun the word that is false (22:30)” “Woe to the falsehood mongers (51:10)”, “Nay, We hurl the Truth, Against falsehood, and it knocks Out its brain, and behold Falsehood doeth perish! (21:18)”, “And say the Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished, indeed falsehood is bound to vanish.”
According to a Hadith a newly converted companion of the Prophet (SAWS) asked for guidance from the Prophet (SAWS) listing up his number of vices to get rid off, on which the Prophet (SAWS) asked him to stop lying only. Next day when the Sahabi wanted to commit a sin as per his habit, immediately he thought, once I go before the Prophet (SAWS) I will have to disclose the truth and cannot lie as promised. Thus he shunned all other vices by leaving to speak a lie.
It is said that a tongue in the mouth of a person can make or mar the person’s future in this world and hereafter though some people may succeed in convincing people by jugglery of their words but their inner conscience shall always be cursing them from inside.
It is stated that telling a lie involves intentionally uttering false statements aiming to deceive others. This is accomplished through various forms of communication, including verbal or written statements.
Speaking a lie includes: Intentional deception: whereby the speaker knowingly provides false information to mislead or manipulate others. False statements: the words or statements given are not true or accurate.Impact on relationships: telling lies can damage trust, credibility, and relationships.
By knowing the implications of telling lies it can help individuals to communicate more effectively and build stronger, more honest relationships.
Abrahm Lincoln once President of USA stated that “A leader is the one who be fools people and himself too is a greatest fool.” though he himself also was a leader.
Sir Walter R Lawrence in his book “Valley of Kashmir” written over a century back quotes many commentators stating that Kashmiris are habitual of telling lies perhaps due to being oppressed for a long time and drawing the attention of rulers by exaggerating their sorry state of affairs.
But it is unfortunate that telling a lie has become a common affair in our society. Be it an office bearer, shopkeeper, tailor, mason, carpenter, plumber or any other skilled labourer they hardly keep to their promise perhaps most often for the fear of losing the customer and not knowing that it has a reverse effect. Even among the educated lot there is a rare exception. When we look to our elders they were mostly speaking truth as they feared the judgment day when the tongues will be sealed and the limbs will answer about the activities they performed. It calls for moral education right from the childhood for which the child should find their parents speaking the truth.
A check needs to be exercised on the social media too for desisting from posting and spreading the false information.
Shaikh Sadi Shirazi (RA) describes “In Condemnation of Lying” in Kareema as:
When a person followeth after uprightness,
Where will he find deliverance on the day of judgment?
Whosoever assumeth the habit of false speaking,
Hath no splendour for the lamp of his soul,
Falsehood putteth a man to shame,
Falsehood depriveth a man of dignity,
A wise man blushethat a liar,
Since no one esteemeth such a person,
O brother! Beware that thou speakest not falsely,
For a liar is despised and without repute,
Nought is worse than unrighteousness,
O son! Therefrom ariseth loss of fair name.
Let us pray that Allah guide us to always speak truth for our benefit and for the benefit of our society. Aameen!
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