03-01-2005, 02:36 AM
Deen, that whole concept is thoroughly confusing. What does human nature or man's nature have to do with the understanding of God's nature. Either God can lie or He can't. I don't think this is a matter AT ALL of comparing Him with His creation.
Are you suggesting that human beings understand a concept that God does not understand?? You make it seem as though God is basically completely unknowable. Because any words that we could use to describe or understand Him would be based upon our own human nature and thus invalid when it comes to God. So, the description of God being "merciful" is completely useless, then, in terms of describing God. Because mercy is something that is a human quality, thus doesn't apply to God. God being "forgiving" loses all meaning, then.
That's almost like the Hindus or Buddhists then who believe in God but that he is so separated and different from creation that there is no such thing as describing or comprehending him.
Well, what exactly would be the point of God REVEALING anything to mankind if He remains, ultimately, unknowable. God HAS MADE HIMSELF known.
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As for Islamic sources regarding lying:
1. Umm Kulthum bint 'Uqbah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:
I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), as saying: He is not a liar who tries to bring reconciliation among people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or conveys good.
<b>Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 4717 </b>
2. <b>Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 369: </b>
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said, "Who is willing to kill Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?" Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?" The Prophet said, "Yes," Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). "The Prophet said, "You may say it."
- <i>Here, Muhammad allows one of his followers to lie to another person</i>.
3. Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf reported that his mother Umm Kulthum daughter of 'Uqba b. Abu Mu'ait, and she was one amongst the first emigrants who pledged allegiance to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him), as saying that she heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he conveys good. Ibn Shihab said he did not hear that exemption was granted in anything what the people speak as lie but in three cases: <b><i>in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the narration of the words of the husband to his wife, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband </i></b>(in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them).
<b>Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 6303-05</b>