What is perjury?
ما هي شهادة الزور؟
Truthfulness is a foundational pillar of justice in Islam. Testifying falsely corrupts the judicial system and leads to the unjust loss of people's rights and properties.
الصدق هو ركيزة أساسية للعدالة في الإسلام. وشهادة الزور تفسد النظام القضائي وتؤدي إلى ضياع حقوق الناس وممتلكاتهم ظلما وعدوانا.
The Definition of Perjury | تعريف شهادة الزور
1. Falsification and Lying
Perjury is deliberately lying, falsification, and telling other than the truth. This false testimony can be either submitted in a written document or spoken verbally.
1. التزوير والكذب
هي تعمد الحنث أو التزوير وقول غير الحقيقة، سواء كانت هذه الشهادة الكاذبة مكتوبة أو منطوقة.
2. Impacting the Judicial Outcome
This act occurs when a witness lies regarding a fundamental issue of a judicial matter. By doing so, the deception actively affects the outcome of the case, subverting justice.
2. التأثير على الحكم القضائي
وتتعلق بشأن مسألة أساسية لإجراء قضائي ما، وذلك بكذب الشاهد وقول خلاف الحقيقة مما يؤثر مباشرة على نتيجة القضية ويغير مجرى العدالة.
Scholarly Insight: In Islamic Jurisprudence, perjury (Shahadat al Zoor) is considered one of the greatest major sins (Al Kaba'ir). The Prophet Muhammad pbuh equated false testimony with the act of associating partners with Allah (Shirk) to emphasize its extreme gravity. Perjury destroys the foundation of society by stripping innocent people of their rightful properties, honor, or freedom, while rewarding the guilty. Because it involves violating the rights of others, true repentance from perjury requires not only seeking Allah's forgiveness but also doing everything possible to restore the lost rights to the wronged party.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Can a written document be considered perjury?
Yes. Falsification and deliberately telling other than the truth constitute perjury whether the testimony is spoken verbally in court or submitted as a written document in a legal proceeding.
What makes a lie qualify specifically as perjury?
While all lying is forbidden in Islam, perjury specifically involves lying about a fundamental issue within a judicial or legal matter where the false testimony directly affects the outcome of a case and alters the administration of justice.
What is the Islamic stance on someone who commits perjury?
Committing perjury is classified as one of the most severe major sins in Islam. It requires sincere repentance, and if the false testimony caused someone to lose their rights or property, the perjurer is obligated to confess and restore those rights to be truly forgiven.