The Liar, His End, and the End of His Followers

In my previous post, I pointed to an important sign of a liar.  You may now wonder why it is important to know about the signs of liars. Why does it matter whether I know who is a liar and who is not?  Most of us have simple answers for these questions, and common sense indeed guides us to keep our distance from liars. 

            In this post, I will present three traditions, which command and emphasize that Muslims must not take liars as companions. The first tradition, which is Reliable, is a very clear and concise tradition that commands Muslims to keep their distance from liars. 

            The second tradition, which is Authentic, raises a very intriguing distinction between the cause of the demise of a liar and the cause of the demise of the followers of that liar.  In other words, the liar and his followers are destroyed by two different causes. 

            As for the followers, it is misconception, suspicion and uncertainty that destroys them. Because they follow a liar, they believe and follow what they should not believe and do, and conversely they reject what they should indeed believe and follow.    In terms of religious jurisprudence, they may commit what is forbidden and they may abstain from what is commanded.  This misconception and confusion, which arise because of the lies will eventually be the main cause of their demise.

            As for the liar, he is not being deceived.  He is the very source of formation of misconceptions.   It is not confusion that leads to his destruction, it is the truth itself, clear evidence against his lies. He is aware of his deception, yet for various reasons, perhaps power or wealth or fame, he continues to lie to his followers. 

             The third tradition, which is Authentic, supports the notion that the liar is aware that he is a liar and lies consciously.  Thus, he cannot be destroyed for the same reason that his confused ignorant followers are destroyed.  

            Here are a few interesting questions to think about after reading the third tradition. What does the following order signify, if anything?  First God, then the angels, then the individual himself.  How is God’s exposing different from the angels’ exposing?  How does God expose the liar? How do angels expose the liar? And how does he expose himself?

            And now, here are the traditions.

5) Reliable

Arabic Text:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ عَنْ مُيَسِّرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُوَاخِيَ الْفَاجِرَ وَ لَا الْأَحْمَقَ وَ لَا الْكَذَّابَ

Farsi Translation:

حضرت صادق عليه السلام فرمايد: براى مسلمان سزاوار نيست كه با فاجر (هرزه، تباهكار، نافرمان) و نه با احمق و نه با دروغگو رفاقت كند.

English Translation:

Narrated by a number of our companions from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Ibn Khaled from Osman Ibn Eissa from Mohamed Ibn Youssef from Muyassar from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) who said:

“A Muslim should not take as a companion a degenerate, a fool and a liar.”

7) Authentic

Arabic Text:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْكَذَّابَ يَهْلِكُ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَ يَهْلِكُ أَتْبَاعُهُ بِالشُّبُهَاتِ

Farsi Translation:

عمر بن يزيد گويد: شنيدم حضرت صادق عليه السّلام ميفرمود: دروغگو با برهانهاى روشن هلاك گردد، و پيروانش بوسيله شبهات

English Translation:

Narrated by Ali Ibn Al-Hakam from Aban from Omar Ibn Yazid who said: I heard Abu Ja’afar (pbuh) say that a liar is doomed due to clear evidence and his followers [are doomed] due to misconception.

6) Authentic

Arabic Text:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ الْأَحْمَرِ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ يُكَذِّبُ الْكَذَّابَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ الْمَلَكَانِ اللَّذَانِ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ هُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَاذِبٌ

Farsi Translation:

حضرت باقر عليه السّلام فرمود: اولين كسى كه دروغگو را تكذيب كند خداوند عز و جل است، سپس دو فرشته كه با او هستند، سپس خود او هم ميداند كه دروغگو است

English Translation:

Narrated by Mihamed Ibn Yehya from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed Ibn Eissa from Ali Ibn Al-Hakam from Aban Al-Ahmar from Fudail Ibn Yassar from Abu Ja’afar (pbuh) who said:

“The first to expose a liar is Allah the most Exalted, followed by the two angels who accompany him and finally himself for he knows he is a liar.”

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 339, Traditions #6 & #7

Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 375, Tradition #5