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: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar