Page 20 - What the Qur'an Says about Liars and Their Methods

WHAT THE QUR'AN SAYS ABOUT LIARS AND THEIR METHODS
idea is regarded as extremely natural. Indeed, when a believer
who lives by the Qur'an's values insists upon observing justice
even at the expense of his own interests, unbelievers consider
him to be either naive or unsophisticated rather than an exem-
plar of superior morality.
People may classify lies as harmless when they are told to
protect their own interests. For instance, when a friend asks for
a loan, many people who could provide the loan find ways to
avoid doing so by claiming that they are looking for a loan
themselves or that business is going badly. This tactic is used to
block the other person's request from the outset. Among peo-
ple who are far from the Qur'an's morality, such behavior is not
considered immoral.
In addition, it is possible to encounter people who lie out
of habit, even if they have no definite aim in mind. Such lies are
based mostly on a person's having nothing to talk about or a
desire to attract attention. For example, when nobody is pay-
ing any attention to them, such people may say that they did
not sleep at all, even though they had a perfectly good night's
sleep. Or, they might say that they have not eaten all day, in-
stead of only a few hours, or that they have a terrible headache
about which they can do nothing, even though the headache is
only minor. Even though these lies might be seen as "minor"
and "harmless," Allah has told us that all lies, without excep-
tion, displease Him.

To mock or make other people angry:
One reason for lying is to annoy the person addressed or
to show him that he is not respected or valued. For example,
when asked: "Where have you been?" a person who is late for
an appointment may tell a very obvious lie to the person who

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