I heard Anas b. Malik saying: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) talked about the major sins, or he was asked about the major sins. Upon this he observed: Associating anyone with Allah, killing of a person, disobedience to parents. He (the Prophet further) said: Should I not inform you about the gravest of the major sins, and (in this connection) observed: False utterance or false testimony. Shu'ba said. It was most probably" false testimony".
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 88 b
This narration from Anas ibn Mālik, preserved in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, addresses the grave matter of major sins (al-kabā'ir) in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) begins by enumerating three foundational enormities: shirk (associating partners with Allāh), unlawful killing, and disobedience to parents.
Hierarchy of Major Sins
The Prophet's rhetorical question "Should I not inform you..." demonstrates the pedagogical method of emphasizing particularly grave matters. While all mentioned sins are major, false testimony is singled out for special warning due to its destructive societal consequences.
The Gravity of False Testimony
Scholars explain that false testimony (shahādat al-zūr) undermines the entire judicial system, leads to miscarriages of justice, and destroys social trust. Its severity lies in combining falsehood with the sanctity of legal testimony, making it a transgression against both God and society.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
Classical commentators note that this hadith establishes the prohibition of all forms of perjury and false statements in legal matters. The spiritual danger stems from bearing false witness while invoking God's name, thus compounding the sin of lying with disrespect toward divine authority.