Avoid falsehood, for falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness to hell; and if a man continues to speak falsehood and makes falsehood his object, he will be recorded in Allah’s presence as a great liar. And adhere to truth, for truth leads to good deeds, and good deeds lead to paradise. If a man continues to speak the truth and makes truth his object, he will be recorded in Allah’s presence as eminently truthful.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَذَّابًا وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صِدِّيقًا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Woe to him who tells things, speaking falsely, to make people laugh thereby. Woe to him! Woe to him!.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِي يُحَدِّثُ فَيَكْذِبُ لِيُضْحِكَ بِهِ الْقَوْمَ وَيْلٌ لَهُ وَيْلٌ لَهُ  

My mother called me one day when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting in our house. She said: Come here and I shall give you something. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked her: What did you intend to give him? She replied: I intended to give him some dates. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: If you were not to give him anything, a lie would be recorded against you.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ دَعَتْنِي أُمِّي يَوْمًا وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَاعِدٌ فِي بَيْتِنَا فَقَالَتْ هَا تَعَالَ أُعْطِيكَ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا أَرَدْتِ أَنْ تُعْطِيهِ قَالَتْ أُعْطِيهِ تَمْرًا فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَا إِنَّكِ لَوْ لَمْ تُعْطِيهِ شَيْئًا كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْكِ كِذْبَةٌ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: It is enough falsehood for a man to relate everything he hears. Abu Dawud said: Hafs did not mention Abu Hurairah (in his version). Abu Dawud said: No other transmitter except this old man, that is, 'Ali b. Hafs al-Mada'ini related the perfect chain of this tradition.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْمًا أَنْ يُحَدِّثَ بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَ