Deobandi Fatwa Permits People to Lie

Lying is universally recognized as a sin. Islam above all other faiths stresses honesty and sincerity the most. The gravity of the sin of lying can be discerned from the proceeding verse of the Holy Qur᾿an:

لَّعۡنَتَ اللّٰہِ عَلَی الۡکٰذِبِیۡنَ

May the Curse of Allah be upon the liars [Surah 3:61]

Allah Most High teaches His servants to always be sincere and just and never to tell a lie or commit a deception for a measly profit in this world. Muslims must be truthful and principled people who tell the truth always, even if it will be inconvenient for them:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا کُوۡنُوۡا قَوّٰمِیۡنَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلّٰہِ وَ لَوۡ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ اَوِ الۡوَالِدَیۡنِ وَ الۡاَقۡرَبِیۡنَ ۚ اِنۡ یَّکُنۡ غَنِیًّا اَوۡ فَقِیۡرًا فَاللّٰہُ اَوۡلٰی بِہِمَا ۟ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الۡہَوٰۤی اَنۡ تَعۡدِلُوۡا ۚ وَ اِنۡ تَلۡوٗۤا اَوۡ تُعۡرِضُوۡا فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ خَبِیۡرًا

O you who believe, be upholders of justice - witnesses for Allah, even though against (the interest of) your selves or the parents, and the kinsmen. One may be rich or poor, Allah is better caretaker of both. So do not follow desires, lest you should swerve. If you twist or avoid (the evidence), then, Allah is all-aware of what you do.‎ [Surah 4:135]

Now let us turn to one of the most misguided and destructive sects which has regrettably emerged within the Muslim Ummah that has been a factor in the public losing sight of the golden values of honesty and justice. I am of course referring to the Deobandi sect which has perfected the art of lying and deceit. The mufti of the Deobandi sect, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, issued Fatawa which gave permission to Muslims in India to not only lie in their testimony before the courts, but also speak lies to protect or further one᾿s own rights if the “need” for it arises. Below are the original quotations and photostats from the book Fatawa Rashidiyah:

کچہری میں جھوٹ بولنا

[Heading: Speaking Lies in the Courtroom]

سوال: ایک مقدمہ امر واقعی اور سّچا ہے اور قاعدہ قانون انگریزی کے خلاف ہے اس میں اپنے استیفائے حق کے واسطےاگر تھوڑا سا کذب ملایا جاوے تو جائز ہے یا نہیں؟۔

Question: A person᾿s case is factual and true but is against the English law. In that [case] if a person, for the sake of acquiring his right, mixes in a bit of lying [Kidhb] will it be permissible or not?

جواب: احیا‏ء حق کے واسطے کذب درست ہے مگر تا امکان تعریض سے کام لے اگر ناچار ہو تو کذب صریح بولے ورنہ احتراز رکھے۔

Answer: For the propagation of truth to speak a lie is correct. However, as long as possible fight the case. If there is no other way then lie profusely, otherwise put forward a complaint.

اپنا حق ثابت کرنے کے لئے جھوٹ کہنا یا کسی سے کہلوانا

[Heading: Lying or Having Someone Lie to Establish One᾿s Right]

سوال: اپنا حق ثابت کرنے کے واسطے خود جھوٹ بولنا یا دوسروں سے جھوٹ بلوانا درست ہے یا نہیں؟

Question: Is it correct or not to speak a lie oneself or have others lie in order to establish one᾿s right?

جواب: اگر راستی سے حق تلف ہوتا ہو تو تعریض سے جھوٹ بول کر احیاء حق کرنا مباح ہے مگر صریح کذب سے بچے۔

Answer: If one᾿s right will be nullified through the [proper] course of action, then instead of persuasion speaking lies for the propagation of truth is permissible [Mubah], but avoid obvious lies.

Reference: Ta᾿leefaat-i-Rasheediyah; p.457