Al-Atsar

April Fool

Praise be to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own selves and from our evil deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whomsoever He sends astray, none can guide.

According to sharee‘ah, lying is not permitted except in specific cases which do not lead to loss of rights, bloodshed or slander of people’s honour, etc., but which concern saving lives, reconciling between people, or creating love between husband and wife.

There is a never a day or a moment when sharee‘ah permits a person to tell lies or to say whatever he wants based on lies. One of the things that have become widespread among the common people is the so called “April Fool’s Day”, where they claim that the first day of the fourth solar month is a day when lying is permitted without being subject to any shar‘i guidelines.


✖ April Fool

With regard to “April Fool”, the origin of this lying is not known for sure. There are differing opinions concerning that:

Some of them said that this innovation goes back to ancient times and the pagan celebrations connected to a specific date at the beginning of spring.

According to the claims of the Christians, it is a symbol of the suffering endured by Jesus, and they claim that this happened in the first week of April.

According to Muslim historian, ‘Aasim ibn ‘Abd-Allah al-Qurawayti, the western Catholic Christians subdued the whole of Spain and put an end to the Muslim rule of more than eight hundred years on April 1st, hence they considered this to be the “trick of April”.

✖ The Prohibition of Lying

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu'anhu that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam said:
“The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 33; Muslim, 59)

An-Nawawi rahimahullah said:
"What the commentators and most of the scholars said – which is correct – is that this means that these characteristics are the characteristics of hypocrisy, and the one who has these characteristics resembles the hypocrites in this sense." (Sharh Muslim, 2/46)

✖ Lying in Jest

Some people think that it is permissible to tell lies if it is in jest. This is the excuse that they use for telling lies on April 1st or on other days. This is wrong. There is no basis for this in the pure sharee‘ah. Lying is haraam whether the one who does it is joking or is serious.

✖ Lying in jest is haraam just like other kinds of lies

It was narrated by Ibn ‘Umar radhiyallahu'anhuma that the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam said:
“I joke, but I speak nothing but the truth.” (narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer, 12/391)

This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Haythami in Majma’ al-Zawaa`id, 8/89, and classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2494)

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah radhiyallahu'anhu said:
“They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, you joke with us.’ He said, ‘But I only speak the truth.’ ” (narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1990)

Abu ‘Eesa said: this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth.

A similar hadeeth was narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat (8/305) and classed as hasan by al-Haythami in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 9/17 .

‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Abi Laylaa said:
“The companions of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam told us that they were travelling with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam. A man among them fell asleep and some of them went and took his arrows. When the man woke up, he got alarmed (because his arrows were missing) and the people laughed. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam said, “What are you laughing at?” They said, “Nothing, except that we took the arrows and he got alarmed.” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam said: “It is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 5004; Ahmad, 22555 – this version narrated by Ahmad)

This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7658.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn al-Saa’ib ibn Yazeed from his father from his grandfather that he heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam say:
“None of you should take the belongings of his brother, whether in jest or otherwise. Whoever has taken the stick of his brother, let him return it.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 5003; al-Tirmidhi, 2160 in brief)

The hadeeth was classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7578

✖ Lying to Make People Laugh

It was narrated by Mu‘aawiyah ibn Haydah radhiyallahu'anhu that he heard the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam say:
"‘Woe to the one who talks to make the people laugh and tells lies, woe to him, woe to him." (narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 235. He said: this is a hasan hadeeth. Also narrated by Abu Dawood, 4990).

Extracted from: "April Fool's Day" by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid