Lying is Prohibited by Religion

The Holy Quran explicitly categorizes liars as disbelievers:

"Only they forge the lie who do not believe in Allah's communications, and these are the liars."

It is understood from this verse that believers do not subject themselves to the filth of fabrication.

The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) stated:

" Adhere to truthfulness; for truthfulness guides to Paradise. Surely a man continues to tell the truth and searches for it until he is written as truthful near Allah. And avoid falsehood; for it leads to the Fire. Man continues to lie until he is written as a liar near Allah."

Nahj al-Fasahah, p. 418 

Among the characteristics of liars is that they only believe after annoying insistence. The Messenger (S.A.W ) said:

"Surely those who are most frequent in believing people are most frequent in telling the truth; and those who mostly doubt people are the most frequent liars." 

Dr. Samuel Smiles writes:

"Some people assume that their own lowly characteristics are normal to other's natures while, in fact, we know that people are mirrors of their own manners. Hence, the good and bad that we see in others is not but a reflection of that which is in our consciences."

Courageous people with good manners and conduct can not bear falsehood nor can they accept to be polluted by such filth. Liars suffer from a mental disorder which keeps them from speaking the truth. Those who resort to lying subconsciously feel weak and humiliated, for lying is the front of the weak and the cowards.

Imam Ali (A.S.) is quoted as saying;

"If entities were materialized, surely truthfulness would stand with courage and cowardice would stand with lying."

Ghurar al-Hikam p. 605

Dr. Raymond Peach said:

"Lying is the best defensive weapon of the weak and the quickest way to avoid danger. Lying in most cases is a reaction to weakness and failure. If you were to ask a child, 'Did you touch this candy?' or 'Did you break this vase?' If the child realizes that admitting the mistake will result in punishment, his instinct tells him to deny it."

Ma Wa Farzandane Ma

Imam Ali (A.S.) stated the clear benefits of truthfulness in a clear narration:

"The truthteller achieves three things: (other's) trust, love, and respect."

"Be not mislead by their prayers and fasting, for a man can become fervently used to prayers and fasting so that if he would abandon them he would feel lonely. Rather, try them when it comes to telling the truth and fulfilling trusts."

Usul al-Kafiy.v.l p. 460 

Imam Ali (A.S.) has said on this subject:

"Lying is the most abominable trait."

Ghurar al-Hikam p. 175

And Dr. Samuel Smiles writes:

"Lying is the ugliest and the most disgusting trait among all lowly charateristics. It is important that man makes his only goal throughout the various stages of life to be truthfulness and honesty, and not to give them up in any case for any other cause or goal."

Akhlaq

Islam based all its behavioral and correction processes on faith, and made faith the basis for man's happiness.

"Manners without faith are like a palace built on mud or ice."

Or as another scholar explains:

"Manners without faith are like seeds planted on rock or between thorns; they eventually wither away and die. If the most noble traits are not motivated by faith, they are like dead crops near a living person."

Religion rules the heart and mind together, it is the arena for bringing harmony to them. Religious feelings reduce material wants, and create an impenetrable barrier between the believer and lowliness. Those who are comfortable by belief always have assigned goals and feel at ease.

"Surely with the remembrance of Allah the hearts feel at ease."