Achievements of Truth

Sorts of Untruth
False Swearing: False swearing is the most dangerous sort of untruth, because it is a double crime it is flagrant daring against the Almighty Lord and a shocking crime that eradicates the rights.
The Prophet (S) said: “Beware of false swearing, for it changes countries into deserted wastelands8.”
Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “False swearing brings poverty to the descendants9.”
Perjury: Like the previous, perjury is a serious crime resulting in denial of the rights and commonness of disorder in the society.
The Prophet (a) said: “Before the perjurer finishes his false testimony in front of the judge, his place is Hell is prepared. The same thing is said about him who conceals a testimony10.”
The holy Quran, also, warned against false wording:
“Stay away from wickedness, idols, and false words.” (22:30)
Damages of false swearing and perjury
• The false swearer and the perjurer do badly to themselves by exposing them to the wrath of God.
• The false swearer and the perjurer do badly to those who encourage them to swear falsely, because such persons support in the fields of wronging people’s rights and insulting their dignities.
• The false swearer and the perjurer do badly to those against whom they swear falsely because they deprive them of their rights.
• The false swearer and the perjurer do badly to the community as a whole, because they spread disorder and destroy the religious and moral values.
• The false swearer and the perjurer do badly to the Islamic Sharia, because they challenge its sacred constitution.
Breach of Promise
Fulfillment of promises is one of the noble traits with which the intelligent people adorn themselves:
“Mention in the Book (the Quran) the story of Ishmael; he was true to his promise, a Messengers and a Prophet.” (19:54)
As he promised a man, Ishmael the prophet confined himself in one place for a whole year waiting for him so as to keep his promise.
It is unfortunate that breach of promise, nowadays, has become a common phenomenon among Muslims who neglected its disadvantages that weaken the mutual confidence, corrupt the social relations, and harm the public interests.
Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “The promise of the believer is a ransomless vow. He who reneges breaks his word with Allah and exposes himself to His dislike. This is the meaning of Allah’s saying: Believers, why do you preach what you do not practice? It is most hateful in the sight of Allah if you say something and do not practice it. (61:2-3)11”
The Prophet (S) once, promised he would wait for a man near a rock. When the heat of the sun became so intense, the Prophet’s companions suggested to him to stand in the shadow until that man would come. “No,” said he, “I promised him to wait near this rock. If he does not come, that will be his fault12.”
Mocking Untruth
Some people find nice to invent mocking lies in order to laugh at others.
Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “For anyone who forges lies against a believer for the purpose of disgracing him, demeaning his personality, and sticking ill reputation to him, Allah will move him from His guardianship to the Shaitan’s. The Shaitan13, however, will not welcome him14.”
Treatment of Untruth
• The previously mentioned disadvantages of untruth, in addition to the material and ethical inconveniences, should be taken in consideration.
• The merits and virtues of truth should be kept in mind.
• Mental training on telling truth and avoiding telling lies should be permanently practiced until untruth is completely erased.
Justifications of Untruth
Untruth is an unwilling vice that is forbidden by the Islamic law. But, there are certain circumstances in which telling untruths becomes allowable. In case a vital interest cannot be achieved unless untruth is committed, the Islamic Sharia permits it. As an example on such vital interests we cite the salvation of a Muslim individual from killing or capture, the protection of the honor of a Muslim, or the guard of his property.
In such cases, untruth becomes obligatory, according to the Islamic law. Correspondingly, when untruth becomes the only means for achieving a more important mission or remedial goal, it is then preponderant or allowed. Reconciliation between people, the propitiation of wives, and trickeries of wars are matters for which telling untruth is allowable.
Imam as-Sadiq (a) said: “The teller of any untruth will be interrogated on the day of Resurrection except the untruths that are told in three situations: stratagems of war, reestablishing the ruptured relations between two parties of the reconciler, in this case, tells one party something that was not said about him by the other party and does the same thing with the other party so as to make peace between them, and promises to the wives15.
Notes:
1. The Farewell Pilgrimage is the last hajj of the Prophet (S).
2. Quoted from a-Tabirsi; Alihtijaj.
3. Quoted from as-Saduq; al-Khissal.
4. Quoted from al-Kafi.
5. Quoted from al-Kafi.
6. Quoted from al-Kafi.
7. Quoted from al-Kafi.
8. Quoted from al-Kafi.
9. Quoted from al-Kafi.
10. Quoted from al-Kafi and Mel La Yahdhuruh ul-Faqih.
11. Quoted from al-Kafi
12. Quoted from Ilal ush-Sharayii.
13. Shaitan is the Devil; Satan.
14. Quoted from al-Kafi
15. Quoted from al-Kafi.