26 Quranic Verses about Lying – How Does the Quran cover this problem?

Do you know that there are 252 Quranic verses that include the root of the Arabic word كَذَبَ (Ka-Dha-Ba) i.e., to lie or to deny out, as a fatal impact of lying? Do you know that lying may occur in words, actions, or beliefs?

This article shows that the Quran gives us different examples of lying embodied in the characteristics of hypocrites and disbelievers in general; and pagans, Jews and magicians in specific. The article also tackles how the Quran shows, referring to Prophet Joseph (PBUH), the bad consequences of this fatal behavior. It also shows the future of liars on the Day of Judgment so as to help us avoid this destructive sin.

In this article, we will be analyzing these 26 Quranic verses that included this mentioned root of lying to show us how the Quran deals with it.

1. The Quran states that lying is one of the significant qualities and causes of hypocrisy.

In many situations, the Quran highlights the link between hypocrisy and lying. Here are some of those verses:

A. The Quran promises the hypocrites a painful punishment for their lying by words and actions.

In Verse (2:10), the Quran shows the hypocrites’ lying pretending faith and it shows their reasons thereof. Allah, The Almighty, said:

فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ

“There is sickness in their hearts, and Allah ˹only˺ lets their sickness increase. They will suffer a painful punishment for their [persistent] lies.”

(Q, 2:10)

B. The Quran states that lying leads to hypocrisy.

In verse (9:77), the Quran says that lying and breaking promises are the reasons for the change of one’s heart and lead him to become a hypocrite. Allah, The Almighty, says:

فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًۭا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ بِمَآ أَخْلَفُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ

So He caused hypocrisy to plague their hearts until the Day they will meet Him, for breaking their promise to Allah and for their lies.

C. Lying in providing excuses is a fatal disease that is not unknown to Allah, The Almighty.

In verse (9:42), the Quran not only shows Allah’s full Knowledge of the hypocrites’ lying but also clears the real reasons for their escaping from sacrificing their souls for the sake of Allah’s. Allah, The Almighty, says:

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لاَّتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

Had the gain been within reach and the journey shorter, they would have followed you, but the distance seemed too long for them. And they will swear by Allah, “Had we been able, we would have certainly joined you.” They are ruining themselves. And Allah knows that they are surely lying.” 

(Q, 9:42)

In another verse from the same chapter, Allah, The Almighty, reveals that the hypocrites try to allege their good intentions; however, this manipulation is clear for Allah who says: 

وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُواْ مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلاَّ الْحُسْنَى وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

There are also those ˹hypocrites˺ who set up a mosque ˹only˺ to cause harm, promote disbelief, divide the believers, and as a base for those who had previously fought against Allah and His Messenger. They will definitely swear, “We intended nothing but good,” but Allah bears witness that they are surely liars.

(Q. 9:107)

2. Lying is applicable, not only for words, but for beliefs, reasonings, and actions as well.

The Quran describes the hypocrites as liars.

In the following verse, though their wording was true, they did not believe in what they uttered. Allah, The Almighty, says:

إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ

When the hypocrites come to you ˹O Prophet˺, they say, “We bear

witness that you are certainly the Messenger of Allah”—and surely

Allah knows that you are His Messenger—but Allah bears witness

that the hypocrites are truly liars.

(Q, 63:1)

In the following verse also, Allah The Almighty, promises Abu Jahl, the Prophet’s enemy, punishment for his actions against Islam, and the Prophet (PBUH) as well as Muslims:

كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ * نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَـٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍۢ

no! If he does not desist, We will certainly drag him by the forelock. A lying, sinful forelock.

(Q, 96:15-16)

The forelock here refers to the frontal lobe of the brain, where reasoning is processed. It’s a metaphor expression for the person himself.

3. Fabricating lies against Allah, The Almighty, and His Messengers is one of the disbelievers qualities that are mentioned in the Quran.

If lying to humans is a major sin, what do you think of fabricating lies against Allah, The Almighty, and His Messengers by alleging that Allah had an offspring or assigning any other fabrications to Him?! Actually, no sin is as disgraceful as disbelief. Allah, The Almighty, says:

فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا 

“Who then does more wrong than those who fabricate lies against Allah?”

(Q., 18:15)

In another verse, fabricating lies against Allah, The Almighty, is described as “a blatant sin”

(4:50).

In the following verses, we will be showing a more detailed illustration for this point:

A. The peak of lying is ascribing an offspring to Allah (exalted and sanctified be He above that)

Allah, The Almighty, denounces the fabrications of the disbelievers who said that Allah, The Almighty, had an offspring (exalted and sanctified be He above that) saying:

أَلَآ إِنَّهُم مِّنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ * وَلَدَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ

“it is one of their ˹outrageous˺ fabrications to say,* “Allah has children.” They are simply liars.”

(Q, 37: 151-152)

In a similar meaning, Allah, The Almighty, describes the real liars saying:

إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِى ٱلْكَذِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ

“No one fabricates lies except those who disbelieve in Allah’s revelations,

and it is they who are the ˹true˺ liars.”

(16:105)

B. Disbelief is a blatant lie against Allah.

Lying happens in beliefs the same as in words and deeds. In the following verse, Prophet Shu’aib said to his people, after they had threatened him to expel him out of their land if he did not return to disbelief, and he replied that he couldn’t have rejected Allah’s guidance:

قَدِ ٱفْتَرَيْنَا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا إِنْ عُدْنَا فِى مِلَّتِكُم بَعْدَ إِذْ نَجَّىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ مِنْهَا ۚ 

“We would surely be fabricating a lie against Allah if we were to return to your faith after Allah has saved us from it.”

(Q, 7:89)

C. The disbelievers accused the Prophets of lying when he called them to worship Allah only.

One nation of disbelievers has accused their Prophet of lying or being insane when he invited them to worship Allah, The Almighty only:

أَفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَم بِهِۦ جِنَّةٌۢ ۗ

“Has he fabricated a lie against Allah or is he insane?”

(34:8)

In another verse also, the people, that a Prophet has been sent to them, have said to him:

وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ

“The disbelieving chiefs of his people responded, “We surely see you as a fool, and we certainly think you are a liar.”

(7:66)

D. Those who fabricate lies against Allah deserve severe punishment.

Prophet Moses (PBUH) warned the magicians saying:

وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًۭا فَيُسْحِتَكُم بِعَذَابٍۢ ۖ

Moses warned the magicians, “Woe to you! Do not fabricate a lie against Allah, or He will wipe you out with a torment. Whoever fabricates ˹lies˺ is bound to fail.”

(20:61)

In another verse, Allah, The Almighty, says that He respites those who fabricate lies against Him so that they may repent before the severe punishment on the Day of Judgment:

وَمَا ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ

“What do those who fabricate lies against Allah expect on the Day of Judgment? Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity, but most of them are ungrateful.”

(10:60)

E. The Quran describes those who fabricate lies against Allah as lacking understanding.

Allah, The Almighty, says describing the pagans who ascribed false rulings to Allah, The Almighty,:

وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ ۖ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ 

“But the disbelievers just fabricate lies about Allah, and most of them lack understanding.”

(5:103)

4. The Quran shows that disbelievers will try to use lying even on the Day of Judgment to save themselves from punishment.

It’s stated in the following verse where Allah, The Almighty, says:

ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ * ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَذَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ

Their only argument will be: “By Allah, our Lord! We were never polytheists.” See how they will lie about themselves and how those ˹gods˺ they fabricated will fail them!”

(6:23-24)

However, the Quran reveals the reality of the disbelievers on that day. Allah, The Almighty, says:

بَلْ بَدَا لَهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يُخْفُونَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَوْ رُدُّواْ لَعَادُواْ لِمَا نُهُواْ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ 

“But no! ˹They only say this˺ because the truth they used to hide will become all too clear to them. Even if they were to be sent back, they would certainly revert to what they were forbidden. Indeed they are liars!”

(6:28)

Moreover, the alleged partners in worship will accuse their followers of lying on the Day of Judgment. Allah, The Almighty, says:

وَإِذَا رَأى الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ شُرَكَاءَهُمْ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَا هَؤُلاء شُرَكَاؤُنَا الَّذِينَ كُنَّا نَدْعُوْ مِن دُونِكَ فَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلَ إِنَّكُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

And when the polytheists see their associate-gods, they will say, “Our Lord! These are our associate-gods that we used to invoke besides You.” Their gods will throw a rebuttal at them, ˹saying,˺ “You are definitely liars.”

(16: 86)

5. Lying is a deep-rooted trait of the Jews against Allah, The Almighty, His rulings, and His Messengers.

There are many verses in the Quran that embody the lies of the Jews and the consequences of that lying. Their lying takes different forms:

A. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is asked not to grieve for the Jews who eagerly listen to lies.

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ

O Messenger! Do not grieve for those who race to disbelieve—those who say, “We believe” with their tongues, but their hearts are in disbelief. Nor those among the Jews who eagerly listen to lies, attentive to those who are too arrogant to come to you.

(5:41)

B. The Jews fabricate lies against Allah by rejecting some rulings of their Book.

The Jews claim that the Torah didn’t include abrogation in its rulings and that Allah did not send another Prophet calling to Allah with the proofs and evidences, although evidences have indicated that abrogation has occurred before in the Torah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last true messenger.

Allah, The Almighty, says:

كُلُّ الطَّعَامِ كَانَ حِلاًّ لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلاَّ مَا حَرَّمَ إِسْرَائِيلُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تُنَزَّلَ التَّوْرَاةُ قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِالتَّوْرَاةِ فَاتْلُوهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ * فَمَنِ افْتَرَىَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

All food was lawful for the children of Israel, except what Israel [Prophet Jacob (PBUH)] made unlawful for himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Bring the Torah and read it, if your claims are true.” Then whoever still fabricates lies about Allah, they will be the ˹true˺ wrongdoers.

(3:93-94)

C. The Jews’ fabrication of lies against Allah is committed intentionally, not by mistake or ignorance.

The Jews allege that they are not accountable before Allah, The Almighty, for deceiving the pagans of Arabia. Allah, The Almighty, says:

وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنطَارٍ يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ إِن تَأْمَنْهُ بِدِينَارٍ لاَّ يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ إِلاَّ مَا دُمْتَ عَلَيْهِ قَائِمًا ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا فِي الأُمِّيِّينَ سَبِيلٌ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

There are some among the People of the Book who, if entrusted with a stack of gold, will readily return it. Yet there are others who, if entrusted with a single coin, will not repay it unless you constantly demand it. This is because they say, “We are not accountable for ˹exploiting˺ the Gentiles [i.e., pagans of Arabia].” And ˹so˺ they attribute lies to Allah knowingly.” 

(Q, 3:75)

D. The Jew fabricated lies against Allah by distorting the Torah.

The Quran narrates that the Jews distort Allah’s Book, the Torah, alleging that what they made is Allah’s words. Allah, The Almighty, says 

وَإِنَّ مِنْهُمْ لَفَرِيقًا يَلْوُونَ أَلْسِنَتَهُم بِالْكِتَابِ لِتَحْسَبُوهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَيَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

“There are some among them who distort the Book with their tongues to make you think this ˹distortion˺ is from the Book—but it is not what the Book says. They say, “It is from Allah”—but it is not from Allah. And ˹so˺ they attribute lies to Allah knowingly.”

(Q, 3:78)

Therefore, the Jews committed lies against Allah The Almighty, His Books and His Messengers. Avoid acting like misguided people!

6. The Quran states that one objective of testing people is to expose the liars.

The Quran states that people have been created in this world to be tested for their truthfulness in worshiping their Creator. Allah, The Almighty, says:

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

“We certainly tested those before them. And ˹in this way˺ Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars.”

(29:3)

7. The Quran asserts that magic is a Satanic work that has been built on lying.

Allah’s revelation is far above magic which is the work of Jinn with their human supporters as lying magicians. In the following verse, Allah, The Almighty, says:

هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَى مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِينُ * تَنَزَّلُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ

Shall I inform you of whom the devils ˹actually˺ descend upon? They descend upon every sinful liar, who gives an ˹attentive˺ ear ˹to half-truths˺, mostly passing on sheer lies.

(26:221-223)

This refers to fortune-tellers who listen to Satanic whispers, add more lies to it, and then pass on the information to people.

8. The Quran narrates a story implying a moral lesson for the bad consequences of lying to warn of its consequences.

The story of Prophet Joseph (PBUH) clearly illustrates the bad consequences of lying that’s been highlighted in some characters of the story. The first example is that of Joseph’s brothers who, out of jealousy, threw him in a well, fabricated a story alleging Joseph’s death, and attributed the crime to the wolf. Allah, The Almighty, says:

وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍۢ كَذِبٍۢ ۚ

“And they brought his shirt, stained with false blood.”

(12:18)

Another example is the story of a lie that’s been presented by the minister’s wife against Prophet Joseph (PBUH). However, one of her relatives discovered the truth saying:

…وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا إِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن قُبُلٍ فَصَدَقَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ * وَإِنْ كَانَ قَمِيصُهُ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِن الصَّادِقِينَ

And a witness from her own family testified: “If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth and he is a liar. 27. But if it is torn from the back, then she has lied and he is truthful.”

(12:26-27)

Later on, both the wife of the minister’s and Joseph’s brothers’ lies were revealed before people and both the minister’s wife and Joseph’s brother haven’t got to what they have been planning for when they plot their lies.

To know the full interesting story of Prophet Joseph (PBUH), refer to Yusuf Chapter in the Quran.

How does the Quran provide treatment for lying?

In many different styles, the Quran has warned us of lying in different styles as illustrated. So as to help us avoid lying and encourage us to adopt truthfulness in all our speeches, deeds, and actions. Still, the Quran opens the door for liars, whether disbelievers or hypocrites, to repent before death.

As the Quran has mentioned the punishment of the hypocrites, yet Allah, The Almighty, still opens a door of hope for them to repent as He says:

إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصْلَحُواْ وَاعْتَصَمُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَأَخْلَصُواْ دِينَهُمْ لِلَّهِ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَوْفَ يُؤْتِ اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا 

“Except those who repent, mend their ways, hold fast to Allah, and are sincere in their devotion to Allah; they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward.”

(4:146)

Isn’t it the right time to read the Quran for its greatness as the last Divine Book revealed to guide humanity to its ultimate happiness? 

If you have any questions right now that are haunting your mind about the Quran, just ask our team!