Posted Mar 26, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 5 Comments
It was reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah in his Musannaf and ‘Abdurazzaq and others that during the reign of ‘Umar bin Khattab a lady was asked by her husband, by Allah I ask you, do you love me? And she replied, if you ask me by Allah then no I do not love you.
The husband went to ‘Umar and informed him of this incident, and ‘Umar sent to the lady, asking her if she really had said that? She replied:
Leader of the Faithful! He asked me by Allah, should I have lied to him?!
Whereupon ‘Umar replied:
Yes! For verily every household is not built upon love, rather many are built upon Islaam and Ihsaan.
Assalamu alaymum
Sorry, but could you explain what this means? I was always lead to believe that we are only allowed to swear by Allah and this obviously has to be the truth. Isn’t lying using Allah’s name a greivous sin?
Wa Alaikum assalaam
May Allah reward you for asking about something you did not understand, you would be suprised to know how many people might have been wondering the same thing and all of them are hoping someone else will ask on their behalf.
Lying in Islaam is a very bad thing, wether it be if a person asks you by Allah or just asks you normally and it is something we all should avoid and shun as much as we can.
Nevertheless there are three times when the Prophet of Allah has mentioned it being allowed for a muslim to lie and he would not be sinful for doing this.
The Prophet said:
“Lies are not appropriate except in three cases: when a man speaks to his wife to please her, telling lies at times of war, and lying in order to bring about reconciliation between people.”
(Reported Hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani).
Hope that clears the issue abit more.
Jazakallahu khairan for clearing that up brother. May Allah reward you
Salam ‘Alaykum,
Here is a more complete version of this story to add more context, perhaps it will benefit the reader insha’Allaah:
“From Abu ‘Azrah al-Du’ali who lived during the time of ‘Umar (radhy All?hu ‘anhu) and used to marry women and then separate from them, until he became known by the people for doing so, and stories would be told about him. When he heard of this, he took ‘Abd Allah b. al-Arqam home with him, and while he was listening, asked his wife, “I implore you with God’s name: Do you hate me?”
“Don’t implore me like that,” she said.
He said, “Yet I do.”
“By God, yes.” she said.
Abu ‘Azrah said to ‘Abd Allah, “Did you hear that?” They then left and went to ‘Umar, saying to him, “People say I wrong women and then separate from them. Ask Abdullah what he heard from my wife.” He did so, and ‘Umar having heard what she had said, sent for his wife.
He said to her, “Are you the one that goes and tells her husband that she hates him?”
She said, “Oh Leader of the Faithful, I am the first to repent and turn back to God’s command. He implored me in God’s name, so what was I supposed to do? Lie? I felt wrong lying!”
“Then lie,” said ‘Umar. “If one of you doesn’t love someone else they shouldn’t say so. Few are those houses that are built upon love; rather people get along by depending upon Islam and Ihs?n to one another.”
[Found in al-Khar?’it?’s (d. 327h) book on character]
As mentioned in a brilliant article written by Sh. Abu Eesa:
http://alternativeentertainment.wordpress.com/2008/11/25/whats-love-got-to-do-with-it-2/
Wa Alaikum Assalam Warahamtullahi Wabaraktuh
JazzakAllah khair for that brother, I did not include the whole thing as many scholars consider it to be weak whereas some debate it to be Hasan. What is important tho is that it sort of explains the famous hadith of the Prophet mentioned earlier.
May Allah reward you fo you input.