Question

Is this Hadith authentic?

ألا إن الكذبَ يُسَوِّدُ الوجهَ

Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Speaking lies blackens the face.”

Answer

This narration is recorded in Ibn Hibban and Musnad Abi Ya’la on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Barzah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5735 and Musnad Abi Ya’la, Hadith: 7440)

‘Allamah Mundhiri and ‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahumallah) have declared a narrator in this chain a suspected fabricator and a liar.

(Targhib, vol. 3, pg. 498, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 8, pg. 91)

The Hadith in question is therefore not suitable to quote.

The following Hadith should be quoted instead:

A person continues to lie and black spots appear on his heart until his entire heart turns black. He is then recorded as a liar by Allah.

(Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith: 2831. See here)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar