What Is the Kaffara for Lying While Holding the Quran?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I was reading the Quran, and when someone called on the phone, I lied to them. I then noticed that I was still holding the Quran. Since I was lying while holding the Quran, should I ask Allah for forgiveness or pay kaffara? Should I fast for three days? I didn’t realize I was holding while I was lying.

Answer

It was not your intention to lie while swearing upon the Quran or by Allah. In this case, you should ask for forgiveness. There would be no need to fast for three days or pay an expiation. If you wanted to perform an act of worship, it would be praiseworthy because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Have taqwa (fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people.” [Tirmidhi]

The more important thing here is that you should not make lying a habit. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Lying leads one to wickedness, and wickedness leads one to hell. A man keeps lying until Allah records that he is an inveterate liar.” [Ibn Maja]

Little, white lies are still lies, and nothing makes a Muslim uglier than his fibbing tongue. It’s disrespectful and undignified behavior to himself and to those around him. Consider Imam al-Shafi’i (Allah be pleased with him), who never committed an enormity and never spoke a lie, even as a child. This should be our role model.

May Allah bless you and give you the best of both worlds.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.