The man adhered to the Beloved Prophet’s صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم words and accepted Islam. When he left the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, someone offered him alcohol. He thought to himself, “If I drink alcohol and the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asks me if I refrained from doing so, I will be breaking my promise if I lie. If I tell the truth, I will be punished.” Therefore, he let this opportunity to drink alcohol pass him by.

Then, he had the opportunities to commit an immoral act and steal, but the same thoughts came to mind. So, he gave up these sins too. After that, he went to the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! You told me to refrain from lying, and now all the doors leading to sins have been closed.” (Thereafter, the man repented and abstained from every sin.)^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers, as soon as the man stopped lying and made a firm intention to speak the truth, he refrained from committing major sins. We learn from this that lying is the root of all sins and the most evil of habits. Whether a lie is spoken through words or manifested through actions, it is condemnable in both cases. A lie is to make a statement which contradicts reality.^[2]

For example, it would be a lie to say “yes” to someone asking you if you attended the weekly gathering or if you have eaten whereas in reality you did neither; these would be lies due to being contrary to reality. Lying is such a bad trait that it is condemned universally by every religion, and Islam greatly emphasises the importance of refraining from this evil deed.

Lying has been condemned in many places of the Holy Quran, and the curse of Allah Almighty is upon the liars.