O Muslims: Do not be deceived by lies, false claims, plots, deceptions of People of Bid'ah and Desires!

[Maher.ibn.Ahmad.Attiyeh]

The Connection of Lying and Deceit to Hypocrisy, Kufr, and Bid'ah, and ultimately the Hellfire, via Proofs from the Scholars who followed/follow the Salaf:

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated: As for the Sahaabah, it is not known that there was one who intentionally lied amongst them, and the praise is for Allaah, just as it was not known that there was one from amongst them who was from the well-known people of innovation, such as the Khawaarij, the Raafidah, the Qadariyyah, the Murji'ah, etc... It is not known that any of these deviant groups were amongst them (the Sahaabah). As for the Taabi'een, it is not known that anyone from the Taabi'een from the people of Makkah, Madeenah, ash-Shaam, al-Basrah intentionally lied. This is different from the Shee'ah. Indeed the matter of lying is something that is well known amongst them. Also this matter of lying has become known in the other groups after them. [Taken from Awjuhush Shabaha Baynal Yahood wan Nasaaraa wa Baynash Shee'ah, Shaykh Jamaal al-Furayhaan, pg. 9]

Shaikh al-'Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said:

And beware of lying with the people. Do not inform them with what opposes the reality, and do not treat them with what opposes the truth. Verily, it is not possible for a believer that he lies; because lying is from the characteristics of the hypocrites: ...and Allaah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed. (Al-Munafiqun, ayah 1). In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy), and Allaah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies. (Al-Baqarah, ayah 10). It is only those who believe not in the ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allaah, who fabricate falsehood, and it is they who are liars. (an-Nahl, ayah 105). Indeed, it is not possible for a believer to lie because he believes in the verses.

[And the Messenger said:] Verily lying leads to corruption. And verily who believes in Allaah and believes in His Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallaam) believes in the saying of the Prophet: corruption leads to the hellfire. 'And the man does not cease to remain lying until he is written with Allaah as a liar.

What an awful destination for lying! What a bottom-rank of a liar!

Verily lying leads to immorality. And it is deviation from the straight path and then towards the hellfire - and woe be to the people of hellfire!

The liar is varmint because he is written with Allaah as a liar. And what an evil description it is for the one who is described as such. Verily the person is alienated when it is said to him amidst people: "O liar!" So how will he acknowledge that when he is written with his Creator as a liar?!

And how unfortunate is a liar in this life that he is not trusted upon with regards to his speech or dealings, and it is a position with which he is remembered in bad terms after his death. And for this reason, Allaah, the Most High, has coupled it [lying] with the worship of idols. So the Most-High said: ...so shun the abomination (worshipping) of idol, and shun lying speech (false statements) (al-Hajj, ayah 30).

[The Illustrious Luminance from Mosques' Sermons, pgs. 478-479] /quote]

Shaikh Rabee' bin Hadee al-Madkhalee (hafidhahullaah) said: Verily, lying in speech is the foundation of hypocrisy, and it is from the most detested and repulsive of characteristics. All the nations respected truthfulness, and detested lying and despised the liars. So strive to be with those who are truthful in their speech and their actions. And keep far away from lying and the liars, since it is from the characteristics of the lowest of mankind, and they are the hypocrites, as occurs in the hadeeth.

Take a look at the hypocrites whose religion is based upon lies, and see how Allaah has exposed them and uncovered their defects. Allaah, The Most High, said: When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allaah." Allaah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allaah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed. They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the Path of Allaah. Verily, evil is what they used to do. (al-Munaafiqoon, ayat 1-2)

Shaykh Abdur Rahmaan bin Naasir as-Sa'dee (rahimahullaah) stated regarding the one who lies upon Allaah: "Allaah The Most High states that there's no one greater in sin/crime than the one who lies upon Allaah. That is by attributing to Allaah a statement or ruling which He, Ta'aala, is free from. Indeed this individual is the most oppressive of the creation. That is because in his action there is the lie and the changing of the religious affairs (the fundamentals and the branches). Also it includes attributing to Allaah that which is from the greatest of corruption." (From Fadlul-'Ilm wa Aadaabu Talabatihi, pg. 435-436)

The Imaam and Muhaddith (scholar of hadeeth) Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadi al-Waadi'ee (rahimahullaah) said: The pillars of Hizbiyyah are three: Lying (al-Kadhib); Deception (at-Tadlees); Fraudulence (al-Khidaa'). [Another time he mentioned:] Deceitful plotting (al-Makr).

'Ali ibn Harb Al-Mousulee said: Every innovator lies without thought.

Regarding Allaah's statement (which means): O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allaah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor. Allaah is a better protector to both (than you). So follow not the desires, lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily Allaah is well aware of what you do. (An-Nisa`, ayah 135). Ibn Taymeeyah (rahimahullaah) said: It is said: to distort means to inform with lying, and to refuse means to conceal the truth. [Majmooul-Fataawa, vol: 28, pg. 7-26]

And concerning the statement of Imaam Fudayl Ibn 'Iyaad (rahimahullaah): If I see a man of innovation, it is as if I have seen a man from the hypocrites, Shaikh Saaleh al Fawzaan (hafidhahullaah) commented, saying: If you see a man from the people of innovations and desires - those in opposition to Ahlus Sunnah, it as if you have seen a man from the hypocrites - those who claim an apparent Islaam whilst they are disbelievers in secret, wishing to be deceitful. So the people of desires and bidah have a resemblance to the hypocrites, because they show an apparent Islaam, however they innovate and do not follow the Sunnah. This is a characteristic of the hypocrites.

This is why Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:

Most of Ahlul Bid'ah are munaffiqoon (hypocrites) with Nifaaq al-akbar (major hypocrisy in belief)!

And, of course, the Salaf realized this, and it is reported from them that they said: I do not know which of these two blessings of Allaah upon me is greater: that Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) guided me – out of all the religions - to Islaam, or that Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) guided me – out of all the parties and groups – to the Sunnah. For they are two great blessings: Islaam and the Sunnah!

Shaikh Rabee' said: ...Some of the people today consider that the matter of hypocrisy as a reality has "ended." They suppose that hypocrisy was only in the time of the Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), but as for the latter ages, then they are "free" from hypocrisy occurring within them. This is clearly from their obvious ignorance and foolishness, and we seek refuge in Allaah from that. As indeed, the most knowledgeable of people regarding the hypocrites was the companion Hudhaifa ibn al-Yamaan (radiallaahu 'anhu), and this companion who was the most knowledgeable of the hypocrites said: The hypocrisy today is worse and more evil than the hypocrisy in the time of the Messenger. They said, 'Why is that?' He said: Because at that time, the hypocrites strove to conceal their hypocrisy, but as for the people today, they manifest it openly.

["A LightHouse of Knowledge From a Guardian of the Sunnah," Pg. 241.)]

Hypocrisy with respect to beliefs is of six types. Aoodhubillaah! The list of these six types of Hypocrisy in belief (which is the more dangerous type of hypocrisy than the hypocrisy in action) can be found in Shaikh Al-Albanee's highly beneficial book Tawheed First, O Callers to Islaam.

Nifaaq in belief is of six types: [Any one of the [above six types] is major Nifaaq [Hypocrisy] - disbelief outside of the religion - and thus the Munaafiqeen (hypocrites) are in the lowest parts of the Fire.]
[1] Denying belief in the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam).
[2] Denying part of what the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) came with.
[3] Hating the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam).
[4] Hating part of what the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) came with.
[5] Pleasure in decline and diminishing of the Messenger's (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) Deen (religion), and
[6] Displeasure in victory and triumph for the Messenger's (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) Deen (religion).

The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Once a man said, 'By Allaah! Allaah will not forgive so and so.' Thereupon Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said, 'Who is he who swears upon me that I will not forgive so and so? I have forgiven so and so and have annulled all of your deeds. [At-Tirmidhee]

Al Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah ta'aala) said:

All praise is for Allaah Who, in every age and interval between the Prophets, raises up a group from the people of knowledge who call the misguided to guidance, and patiently bear ill-treatment and harm. With the Book of Allaah, they give life to the dead, and by Allaah's light they give sight to the blind. How many are those [whose eeman] have been killed by Iblees whom they have helped give life to again? How many people astray and wandering have they guided? How beautiful their effect has been upon the people, and how vile people have been towards them.

They repel from the book of Allaah the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars and the false interpretations of the ignorant ones - those who uphold the banner of innovation and let loose the trials and discords. Who differ about the Book, oppose the Book, and agree to oppose the Book. Those who speak about Allaah and His Book without knowledge, argue about what is ambiguous in the Book and deceive the ignorant with such ambiguities. We seek refuge in Allaah from the trials of the misguided ones." [From Imam Ahmad's introduction to his book "Ar-Rad 'alal Jahmiyyah waz-Zanaadiqah" (The Refutation upon the Jahmiyyah and the Heretics), pg. 2.]

Shaikh 'Abdur-Razzaq 'Abdul-Muhsin al-'Abbaad (hafidhahumullaah) said: The individual must have the characteristic of telling truth when he speaks. The believer is always truthful when he speaks. Lying does not know the believer, and the believer does not know it. He must continue to be protective of his truthfulness throughout his life until his truthfulness leads him to the Jannah, as comes in the hadith collected by Bukhaari and Muslim that the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: It is upon you to be truthful, be truthful, for indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to the Jannah, and a person will continue to tell the truth and to be conscious about telling the truth until he will be written with Allaah as a siddiq – an extremely truthful person.

The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: Indeed Allaah is Pure, and He does not accept, except that which is pure. Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan commented on this hadeeth saying,

In this hadeeth he (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) described Allaah (Jalla-Wa-'alaa) that He (subhaanah) is Pure. He (subhaanah) is Pure, meaning; He is free from all imperfections and deficiencies. He is Pure in His Essence, in His Names and Attributes, and in His Commandments and Prohibitions. He (subhaanah) is Pure in every aspect, and imperfection cannot reach Him; and for that reason He does not accept actions, statements and intentions except that which is pure. He does not accept filthy statements, actions and intentions. He does not accept except the pure, as He (Ta-aalaa) said:

To Him ascend (all) the goodly words. (Faatir, ayah 10)

He (subhaanah) does not accept, except good speech and good actions... As for filthy speech, then indeed Allaah rejects and hates it; such as lies, backbiting, tale-carrying, abuse, false speech and false testimony and all filthy statements, (such as) shirk and kufr. All of this is filthy speech, and does not ascend to Allaah, and is not accepted. [Al Minhatu Ar-Rabbaaniyyah Fee Sharh Arba-een Nawawiyyah, pg. 133-134]

Shaikh Rabee' said: Allaah said in the Qur`an (what means): It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad) the Book (this Qur`an). In it are Verses that are entirely clear; they are the foundations of the Book; and others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth), they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials, etc.), and seeking for its hidden meanings. But none knows its hidden meanings save Allaah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive admonition except men of understanding. (Aali 'Imran, ayah 7)

So Allaah clarifies in this verse the true condition of the people of deviance and desires, and that they intend for the Muslims evil and fitnah. This is because their intentions are not correct, and their hearts are sick, and they want the people to be affected by the same poisons that are affecting them. So due to this, it is wajib (obligatory) that they are warned against to the full extent of our ability.

Verily, Allaah has informed us in this verse [7th verse of Surat Alee-'Imran] that those in whose hearts there is deviance seek those verses that are not entirely clear because they want fitnah. They want people to have fitnah in the religion, so they go astray from Allaah's true religion and end up in the same state of innovation, misguidance, doubts and confusion that those innovators themselves are in. And we ask Allaah that He saves us and them from this evil path, and saves them from those things that can cause destruction. [Ameen.]

The Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) recited this [above] verse and then said: If you see those who seek the verses which are not entirely clear, then they are those whom Allaah has named, so beware of them.

So the people of deviance and desires seek to base their religion upon the verses that are not entirely clear. So the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) meant it is wajib to warn the people from them, because they are astray and they lead the people astray. And this is how Ahlul Bid'ah are in every time and in every place, whatever type of bid'ah [they're upon]. You should never think of a bid'ah as something small or insignificant.

So ihsanu dhan, or having good thoughts, about the people of bid'ah and misguidance is in opposition to the manhaj of Allaah, The Most High. Rather it is necessary that we beware of them. So the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, "If you see those who seek the verses which are not entirely clear, then they are the ones whom Allaah has named, so beware of them." And the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) did not say "have good thoughts about them or make excuses for them.

In sha` Allaah, after reading these proofs of the evil of lying and its indisputable connection to hypocrisy, shirk, and bid'ah, and ultimately the hellfire, lying should be detested and abhored and disdained by the Muslim who hopes for and desires the face of Allaah, and begs Allaah for safety from the hellfire.