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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Greater Sins Volume 2 The Nineteenth Greater Sin: False Testimony According to the corpus of traditions false testimony is a Greater sin. It is also mentioned in the narration of Abdul Azīm quoted from Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (a.s.). Similarly the tradition of Fazl Ibn Shazān includes it in the list of Greater sins as mentioned by Imam Riďa (a.s.). That it is a Greater sin is also proved by the hadith of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) as quoted by Amash.

We have already mentioned in the chapter on “lying” that falsehood is a Greater sin. False testimony obivously is also a branch of falsehood.

In the tradition narrated by Hazrat Abdul Azīm, Imam (a.s.) has proved the ‘greatness’ of not giving false testimony on the basis of the following verse of the Holy Qur’an: “And they who do not bear witness to what is false....” (Surah al-Furqān 25:72) “...These shall be regarded with high places...” (Surah al-Furqān 25:75) In this verse the word ‘false’ signifies the action of proving a falsehood as though it were the truth.

Another verse says, “...therefore avoid the uncleanness of the idols and avoid false words.” (Surah Hajj 22:30) The Holy Prophet (S) says, “To testify falsely tantamounts to polytheism.” It is mentioned in Tafsīr Abdul al-Fath Razi that the Holy Prophet (S) repeated this statement thrice and then quoted the above ayat (Surah Hajj 22:30) A similar kind of tradition is recorded in Mustadrak ul-Wasa’il, from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.).

“In the Qur’an Allah has compared false testimony to polytheism.” Allah (S.w.T.) mentions the avoidance of ‘uncleanness of the idols’ and ‘false words’ in a single verse, one after the other. ‘False words’ imply sin and false testimony From the traditions quoted above it becomes clear that whenever the term ‘false words’ etc. occurs in Qur’an it implies ‘lying.’ Similar verses have been quoted in the chapter of music and songs.

Hence some traditions state that ‘false words’ refers to music or songs. Actually the word ‘false’ stands for every evil, wrong and undesirable thing. Music, songs and lies head the list of these things.‘lying.’ Similar verses have been quoted in the chapter of music and songs. Hence some traditions state that ‘false words’ refers to music or songs. Actually the word ‘false’ stands for every evil, wrong and undesirable thing. Music, songs and lies head the list of these things.