Attributing Lies to God:😱 The Greatest Injustice in the Qur’an

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Attributing Lies to God: The Greatest Injustice in the Qur’an

One of the gravest sins described in the Qur’an is falsely attributing something to God (Arabic: iftirā ʿalāllāh). This act is not just about telling a lie—it is about obscuring the truth, falsely claiming something in the name of God, and thus becoming the root of shirk (polytheism), oppression, and deviation.

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1. What Does Iftirā Mean?

In Arabic, iftirā means “to fabricate something from nothing, to invent, to distort.” In the Qur’an, it is most often used in the context of “falsely attributing something to God.” This can take many forms: inventing religious rulings, declaring something forbidden (haram) that God has not forbidden, or claiming to speak on behalf of God without evidence.

“Who is more unjust than one who fabricates a lie against God?”
(Surah Al-An‘am, 6:21)

The Qur’an describes such a person as the most unjust (ẓālim), because they not only mislead themselves but also lead others astray and misrepresent God.

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2. Corrupting Religion Through Lies About God

Throughout history, the corruption of divine religion has often been led by priests, religious leaders, and kings who falsely claimed to speak for God. The Qur’an warns:

“So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from God.’”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:79)

Such lies block people from accessing the truth, justify systems of polytheism, and open the door to religious exploitation.

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3. Inventing Prohibitions and Banning the Permissible

According to the Qur’an, declaring as forbidden what God has not forbidden is also a form of iftirā. Some societies have created religious bans on certain foods, behaviors, or lifestyles in the name of God. However:

“Do not forbid the good things which God has made lawful for you, and do not transgress.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5:87)

When people begin speaking on behalf of God without knowledge, religion turns into conjecture, superstition, and tradition. The Qur’an warns clearly:

“Do not say about God what you do not know.”
(Surah Al-A‘raf, 7:33)

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4. Intercession, Mediators, and Superstitions: Modern Forms of Iftirā

Today, many claim they need intermediaries—holy people, saints, or rituals—to draw closer to God. They present these practices as if they were divinely ordained. But the Qur’an firmly rejects this idea:

“They say, ‘These are our intercessors with God.’ Say: ‘Do you inform God of something He does not know in the heavens or the earth?’”
(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:3)

Such claims are lies against God, as they attribute divine powers—such as the ability to forgive or to grant access to God—to others besides Him.

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5. The Consequence: Mixing Truth with Falsehood

Attributing lies to God is not just an ordinary falsehood; it casts a shadow over divine revelation, obscures truth, and misguides people. That’s why the Qur’an labels it as one of the gravest wrongs:

“Woe to those who fabricate lies against God.”
(Surah Hud, 11:18)

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Final Word: Speaking in the Name of God Is a Responsibility

If a statement truly comes from God, it must have evidence in the Qur’an. Any religious claim not rooted in the Qur’an carries the risk of being based on conjecture or fabrication. Therefore, the duty of every believer is to never attribute to God what He did not say, and to deliver what He has said without distortion or omission.

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WARNING / REMINDER

The views, interpretations, and conclusions in this text are the result of human effort.

Please evaluate every statement in light of the entirety of the Qur’an. Weigh and verify each point through the guidance of the revealed verses.

The only true criterion is God’s Book. If there is error, it is ours; if there is truth, it is from God.