“So shun the abomination of idols and shun all words of falsehood.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 22:30)
Every kind of falsehood, slander and false testimony is forbidden. However, in the present context, these words are specifically aimed at denouncing the false beliefs, norms, practices and superstitions which are rooted in unbelief and polytheism. To associate others with God in His Divinity and to hold any of God’s creatures as His partners in His essence, attributes, rights and authority is the greatest conceivable falsehood and this is denounced here. This denunciation also embraces the falsehood that had misled the polytheists of Arabia into believing that it was unlawful to kill bahīrah, hām, etc., for human beings have no right to declare, of their own accord, anything to be lawful or unlawful, as the Qur’ān says: ‘And do not utter falsehoods by letting your tongues declare: “This is lawful” and “that is unlawful”, thus fabricating lies against Allah’ (al-Nahl 16:116).
Likewise, the intercession contained in this verse also covers false oaths and false testimonies. The point is further elaborated in the following hadīth: ‘False testimony amounts to associating others with God in His Divinity.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said so and supported it by reference to the above verse. According to Islamic Law, false testimony is a cognizable offence. Abū Yusuf and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani are of the opinion that if anyone is convicted of false testimony by a court, this should be made public and the person so convicted should be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. Umar ibn al-Khattab also held this opinion and applied it. He said, ‘He [i.e. the culprit] should be flogged, his head should be shaved, his face should be blackened, and he should be subjected to long-term imprisonment.’