Even Small Lies Are Dangerous

📖Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4991
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: My mother called me one day while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was seated in our house. She said, “Come here and I will give you something.” The Prophet ﷺ asked her, “What do you want to give him?” She said, “I will give him a date.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “If you had not given him anything, it would have been recorded against you as a lie.”

Description:
This hadith teaches the importance of honesty and fulfilling promises, even in small matters. For example, if today someone invites a friend for dinner and says, “I will prepare a full meal,” but when the friend comes, only water or a small snack is given instead, this counts as a form of lying – because the words promised something that was not delivered, Islam forbids this kind of dishonesty. Even minor lies, when repeated, can become a bad habit that harms trust and integrity, However, if someone does this out of ignorance – not knowing that Islam forbids it – it does not count as a sin. These are lesser mistakes and are forgivable, but one should be aware that honesty is a core virtue and must be maintained.

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 17:36
And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart — about all those [one] will be questioned.
This emphasizes caution in actions and words, including promises and statements made to others.

📖Quran 33:70
O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.
This encourages truthfulness in all speech, reflecting integrity and righteousness in daily life.