The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Issue 57

Issue 57 [@1:01:49]: Abdullah Al-Araby – There are certain provisions for lying. So, a Muslim can lie for the cause of Islam, can lie to keep peace in family. So, he can lie to his wife. A Muslim can lie to his fellow Muslims to keep peace in the society. Muhammad ordered himself ordered people to lie. When people that he ordered to go and kill somebody, they [mumbled word] “we cannot kill them unless we lie to that person.” He said, “okay, fine, lie.”

Rebuttal 57: Al-Araby needs to be corrected that in Islam – “There are NO provisions for lying. So, a Muslim canNOT lie for the cause of Islam, canNOT lie to keep peace in family. So, he canNOT lie to his wife. A Muslim canNOT lie to his fellow Muslims to keep peace in the society.”

Mr. Al-Araby you missed the forest for the trees. In your view of Islam it seems that as a religion it is male centric and women are on its periphery, which is obvious from your statement that “he can lie to his wife.” You mistook Islam for your own Christianity. Since Al-Araby is talking about husband and wife, then discussing sexual relationships should not be out of context. See for yourselves how a husband in Bible can get away with a lie to his wife (Deuteronomy 22 – New International Version):

13 If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her , dislikes her

14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,”

15 then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring to the town elders at the gate proof that she was a virgin.

16 Her father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her.

17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town,

18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him.

19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

20 If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the young woman’s virginity can be found,

21 she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done an outrageous thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you.

The above passages bring to front the anti-woman laws of Bible. These verses mandate that only virgins can marry else they could be stoned to death. Even virgins have to preserve their proof of virginity, but how? The modern forensics tell us beyond doubt that there is no reliable and accurate biological proof of virginity of a woman. Obviously in Bible, the burden is ridiculously heavy on the accused to disprove the slanderer, whereas in Quran it is exactly the opposite and Just for the accused.

Proof for alleged sexual perversity of a woman has a high evidential bar in Quran of four witnesses, if they could be produced to begin with:

4:15. As to those of your women who commit sexual perversity, call in four of you to wit-ness against them, and if they bear witness then confine them to their houses, until death overtakes them or Allâh makes for them a way out.[Nooruddin]

As for scandalmongers, if they cannot prove their allegation, their retribution is severe:

24:4. Strike eighty times on the bodies of those who calumniate chaste women and who do not support (their accusation) with four witnesses, and never accept their testimony (because) it is they who are the disobedient (and break the law);

24:5. Except those who repent after this and make amends, they will find Allâh Great Protector, Ever Merciful.[Nooruddin]

The errors of flesh have recourse in repentance:

4:17. Verily, Allâh undertakes to accept the repentance of only those who do evil through lack of knowledge, then repent soon after. Such are the person towards whom Allâh turns with mercy. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.[Nooruddin]

For a married couple with no witness, the recourse of alleged sexual perversity during the marriage has the following remedy before a living God:

24:6. And those who charge their wives of adultery and have no witnesses (to support their charge) except their own selves, let each (husband) bear testimony (repeating it) four times over calling Allâh to witness that he is surely of those who speak the truth in (the matter of) charging his wife (of adultery).

24:7. And the fifth (time he should say on oath) that Allâh’s wrath be upon him if he be of the liars.

24:8. But it shall avert the punishment from her (- the wife) if she calling Allâh to witness testifies four times over that he is of the liars (in bringing this charge against her).

24:9. And the fifth (time she should say on oath) that the wrath of Allâh be upon her if he (- her husband) has spoken the truth (about her).

24:10. But for Allâh’s grace and His mercy (which rests) upon you and (but for the fact) that Allâh is Oft-Returning (with compassion), All-Wise (you would have come to grief). [Nooruddin]

By the above discussion it is quite obvious that Bible abets lying of a husband, whereas Quran prevents it from happening to begin with.

The following verses speak for themselves where the alleged provisions to lie as leveled by Al-Araby are uprooted in Quran irrespective of a potential secondary gain to one’s spouse, family, society or Islam:

4:135. O you who believe, be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah, even if it is against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives — whether he is rich or poor, Allah has a better right over them both. So do not follow (your) low desires, that you deviate. And if you distort (the truth) or turn away (from it), surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.

6:152-53. And do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner, until he attains his maturity. And give full measure and weight with equity — We do not impose on any soul a duty beyond its ability. And when you speak, be just, even (against) a relative. And fulfil

Allah’s covenant. This He enjoins on you that you may be mindful; and (know) that this is My path, the right one, so follow it, and do not follow (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way. This He enjoins on you that you may keep your duty.

[Footnote] Islam requires a person to be so upright as not to be led away by the ties of relationship. Truth is not to be sacrificed to any interest but every interest must be sacrificed to truth.

11:18-21. And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah? These will be brought before their Lord, and the witnesses will say: These are they who lied against their Lord. Now surely the curse of Allah is on the wrongdoers, who hinder (people) from the path of Allah and desire to make it crooked. And they are disbelievers in the Hereafter. These will not escape in the earth, nor do they have guardians besides Allah. The punishment will be doubled for them. They could not bear to hear, and they did not see. These are they who have lost their souls, and what they forged is gone from them. Truly in the Hereafter they are the greatest losers.

In above verses it is unambiguously clear that in Islam one cannot lie on a witness stand to maybe save the life of a family member, then how in the world Islam allows a Muslim to lie in other matters? Fact is that in Islam, being truthful is an unburdening experience because of the Divine Law – We do not impose on any soul a duty beyond its ability.

Al-Araby’s allegation of Prophet Muhammad sanctioning a lie is refuted in the next Issue 58.

References:

Unless indicated otherwise, all verses and corresponding footnotes above are from the translation and commentary of Holy Quran – Muhammad Ali, edited by Dr. Zahid Aziz.

Bible – New International Version – BibleGateway.com

Holy Quran – Nooruddin