Accounting and the Prohibition of Lying

Question

In this Q&A, the discussion revolves around the importance of accountability in actions and the implications of lying in various situations. [AR_ID:911]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Q1) It has been narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him): "A servant's feet will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: about his life and how he spent it, about his youth and how he utilized it, about his wealth and where he earned it and how he spent it, and about his knowledge and what he did with it."

Additionally, Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) described the world saying: "What can I describe about a home whose beginning is toil and its end is destruction? In its lawful there is accountability, and in its unlawful there is punishment. Whoever becomes self-sufficient in it is tested, and whoever becomes poor in it is saddened. Whoever pursues it will miss it, and whoever sits back from it will be overtaken by it. Whoever sees it clearly will be enlightened, and whoever looks at it will be blinded."

These two narrations clearly indicate what will appear to us on the Day of Judgment in our record of deeds, which will mention everything a person engaged in from the permissible aspects of this world, including their indulgence in food, drink, transportation, and more.

Q2) You should be cautious not to fall into lying, God forbid, in this situation. Lying is intentionally stating something contrary to reality. However, it is permissible to use allusion, which means to intend a meaning from the words that has a basis in reality, but is contrary to the apparent meaning.

May you be successful in all good.

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Source:

Sayyid Sistani: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 2, Issue 38.

Sayyid Khamenei: Special Inquiry.

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Notes:

(1) Sharh al-Akhbar by al-Qadi al-Nu'man 1: 157; Al-Amali by al-Mufid: 353/ Hadith 5; Al-Mu'jam al-Awsat by al-Tabarani 2: 348.

(2) Sharh al-Nahj by Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Vol. 2, p. 84, 1st edition.