The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered the morning prayer. When he finished it, he stood up and said three times: False witness has been made equivalent to attributing a partner to Allah. He then recited: "So avoid the abomination of idols and avoid speaking falsehood as people pure of faith to Allah, not associating anything with Him.
The Office of the Judge (Kitab Al-Aqdiyah) - Sunan Abi Dawud 3599
This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) establishes the grave severity of false testimony in Islamic law, equating it with the major sin of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Scholarly Commentary
The Prophet's repetition of this warning three times after the dawn prayer emphasizes its critical importance and ensures the message resonates deeply with the congregation at a spiritually receptive moment.
False testimony (shahadat al-zur) corrupts the entire judicial system, leads to injustice, destroys rights, and undermines social trust - thus bearing similarity to shirk in its destructive consequences for both religious and worldly affairs.
Quranic Connection
The Prophet's recitation of Quran 22:30 connects false speech with idolatry, showing that truthfulness is integral to pure monotheism (tawhid). Just as Muslims must avoid physical idols, they must avoid the "idol" of falsehood in speech.
Legal Implications
This hadith forms the foundation for strict evidentiary standards in Islamic judiciary. Witnesses must be known for righteousness and truthfulness, and false testimony incurs both legal penalties and severe spiritual consequences.