DON’T BE FOOLED.
In the early 1570s, France’s King Charles IX adopted the Gregorian dating system and sent out orders around his kingdom to change the New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1. The more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1.These folks were labelled as ‘fools’ by the general populace. It is common knowledge in Europe that this change in the dating system, says Wilson, “is where we get April Fool’s Day”. The claim that this tradition originates from the event of Christians victory over Muslims in Andalusian Spain is false & a myth. The myth proposes that Europeans made fool of Muslims by introducing Liquor & Tobacco to them and thus gradually weaken them through its indulgence.
Being truthful means speaking the truth and also saying things that reflect reality. It is one of the necessities of a human society, one of the virtues of human behavior, and brings great benefits, whilst lying is one of the major elements of corruption in human society, and the cause of the destruction of social structure and ties, one of the most evil features of bad conduct, and causes widespread harm. Hence Islam commands truthfulness & forbids lying.
“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are true (in word and deeds).” [9:119]
Ibn Katheer (rh) said: “It means: be truthful and adhere to truthfulness, and you will be among its people and will be saved from calamity, and this will make a way out for you from your problems.”
“… if they had been true to Allaah, it would have been better for them.” [47:21]
The Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Woe to the one who lies to make people laugh, woe to him , woe to him. In al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhari & Muslim) ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (radiallahuanihu) : The Messenger of Allah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “I urge you to be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will continue to be truthful and seek to speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as speaker of truth (siddeeq). And beware of lying, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hell; a man will continue to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.” And it was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood also said: Lying is not appropriate whether in earnest or in jest.Hence immorality and righteousness are diametrically opposed.
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (rh) said: “I memorized from the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam): ‘Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt, for truthfulness is certainty and tranquility, whilst lying is doubt and confusion.” (al-Tirmidhi)
In the lengthy hadeeth of Abu Sufyaan describing his meeting with Heraclius, Abu Sufyaan (radiallahuanihu) said: “[Heraclius] said, ‘What does he [meaning the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam] command you to do?’ I said, ‘He says: worship Allaah alone and do not associate anything in worship with Him, and abandon that which your forefathers did. He commands us to pray, to be truthful, to be chaste and to uphold the ties of kinship.’” (Bukhaari).
Truthfulness includes being truthful towards Allaah by worshipping Him sincerely; being truthful towards one’s own soul by making it adhere to the laws of Allaah; and being truthful with people in one’s words and by keeping one’s promises, and in dealings such as buying, selling and marriage, so there should be no deceiving, cheating, falsifying or withholding of information. Thus a person should be the same on the inside and the outside. Being truthful in promises and covenants is one of the characteristics by which the believers are known. Both promises and covenants involve saying something about an issue to confirm that you will do it, especially with regard to one’s duties towards Allaah. Allaah says, praising some of His slaves :
“… and who fulfil their covenant when they make it…” [2:177], [23:8] [33:23]
As regards lying, it is highly forbidden. The most obnoxious form of lying is falsely attributing things to Allaah and His Messenger, because this involves fabrication about the religion and is an act of outrage against Allaah. Hence one of the characteristics of the Prophet is that he truthfully conveyed that which Allaah commanded him to convey. So Allaah said :
“… who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allaah, to lead mankind astray without knowledge. Certainly Allaah guides not the people who are zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)” [6:144],[11:18]. Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) also said : “Whoever lies about me deliberately, let him take his place in Hell.” (Agreed upon). Scholars are of the view that the one who deliberately tells lies about the Prophet (saw) is a kaafir. https://islamqa.info/en/34725.
In Islam, Lying is haram (impermissible) in all cases, expect those which are exempted by the Lawgiver, April fool’s day is not one of the exemptions. Asma’ bint Yazeed said: “The Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Lying is not permitted except in three cases: a man’s speaking to his wife to make her happy; lying at times of war; and lying in order to reconcile between people.’” (Saheeh Muslim). Ahmad narrated that Abu Bakr (radiallahuanihu) said: O people, beware of lying, for lying is contrary to faith. Saheeh. It is narrated in a saheeh report from Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas (radiallahuanihu) that he said: The Muslim could develop all sorts of characteristics except treachery and lying. We ask Allaah to make us sincere and truthful in word and deed.
NOTE THAT TAQQIYA (LIEING, CONCEALMENT & DISSIMULATION IN THE NAME OF RELIGION) HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ISLAM OF AHL AS-SUNNAH WA’L-JAMAA‘AH, IT IS A PILLAR OF THE RELIGION OF THE KUFAAR 5%ERS (SHIAS OR RAFIDAH REJECTERS ). https://islamqa.info/en/178975.
Is it permissible to lie to kaafir? https://islamqa.info/en/175632
When is deliberate ambiguity permitted in Islam? http://islamqa.info/en/27261
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