In this final section of the series on lying in Islam, I examine the account recorded in the bible (Genesis chapter 20) when Abraham, to save his own life, told King Abimelech that Sarah—his wife—was his sister, not his wife. In fact, Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister, but this was still a lie; a lie of omission, and misleading. Sarah agreed to his request and lied as well. In history’s record, Abraham lied to Abimelech after God had declared Abraham righteous. Abraham’s right standing with God was established on Abraham’s belief in God’s promises that He would in fact give Abraham an heir from his own body, and beyond just an heir, countless direct descendants. (Gen 15) These are promises of life. They require Abraham’s participation. In order for God’s promises to Abraham to actualize, Abraham must live for at least the time of the first promise, his having an heir; or, at minimum, Sarah conceiving.
Now, consider carefully Abraham’s words when confronted by Abimelech about the lie:
‘“Why did you do it?”
“Abraham answered, ‘I thought that there would be no one here who has reverence for God and that they would kill me to get my wife. She really is my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not of my mother, and I married her. So when God sent me from my father’s house into foreign lands, I said to her, “You can show how loyal you are to me by telling everyone that I am your brother.”’” (Good News Translation, Gen 20:10-13)
I have purposefully excluded much of the recorded event to keep this piece short. Many insights can be mined from this passage, but I am restricting my comments to align with our study.
Abraham’s reason for lying was, ultimately, that he did not believe (trust) God. This seems quite odd, given that believing God for an heir and countless descendants is the ground upon which God declared Abraham righteous. (Gen 15:6) Abraham’s faith in God, His sovereignty and commitment to His word, that God would do what He said He would do, anchored Abraham’s life. So, where was Abraham’s faith and trust in God now? He feared for his life. Why? Could it be that Abraham did not know this God he trusted like he thought he did? That seems a legitimate theory. Let’s look at it.
First, Abraham assumed the king and his people did not know God. Another bible version translates Abraham’s answer to Abimelech’s question, “the fear of God is not in this place.” Or, looking at it another way, “God is not in this place.” Second, following from the first reason, Abraham also assumed that once the people saw Sarah, the king would learn of her beauty, order Abraham—her husband—killed, then the king would marry her. He intended to marry her, anyway.
Let’s be very clear on one thing: God did not approve of Abraham lying. No exemptions. No privileged ways of viewing the nature of the lie based on certain perceived outcomes. Abraham’s end (living) did not justify his means (lying). And, contrary to Abraham’s convictions, God was in fact quite present and aware of what was happening. God knew accurately why these things were happening. He knew who was culpable for what, because He can see into people’s hearts. And, in His mercy, God intervened to save those Abraham thought had no reverence for God. While Abraham was the one God made promises to and a covenant with, He first confronts Abimelech. Now, how does that make any sense? Let’s look at it.
“One night God appeared to him [Abimelech] in a dream and said, “You are going to die, because you have taken this woman; she is already married.”
But Abimelech had not come near her, and he said, “Lord, I am innocent! Would you destroy me and my people? Abraham himself said that she was his sister, and she said the same thing. I did this with a clear conscience, and I have done no wrong.”
God replied in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did it with a clear conscience; so I kept you from sinning against me and did not let you touch her. But now, give the woman back to her husband. He is a prophet, and he will pray for you, so that you will not die. But if you do not give her back, I warn you that you are going to die, you and all your people.”(Gen 20:3-7)
Under the tenets of Islam, Abraham’s lie would have been acceptable because the objective was praiseworthy—Abraham staying alive, thus God’s promises could be fulfilled. Abraham could not achieve this objective by telling the truth, but he could by lying. (Reliance of the Traveller r8.1-.2)
Under Islam, Abraham’s lie would have been acceptable because the end justified the means—Abraham needed to live to have the heir God promised—and Abraham chose a more religiously acceptable form of lying called “misleading.” (RT r8.2)
According to Islam, Abraham’s lie would have been acceptable because of the greater good—from Abraham was to come not just an heir for him, but innumerable people who would be his descendants beyond count; two of whom would be Isaac and Ishmael. So, Abraham put the greater good ahead of telling the truth. (RT r8.2, r10.0-.3)
Now, while Abraham acted hypocritically toward Sarah, Abimelech, and the town’s people, I don’t believe the case can be made that he gains justification for using lying through hypocrisy. The reason is that for lying by hypocrisy to be a non-sinful lie it must benefit the parties lied to. Abraham had himself in mind. He lied for his own selfish benefit. (RT r16.0-.2)
Summing up: Islam, as supported by sections addressing lying in Reliance of the Traveller, would justify Abraham’s lying to king Abimelech by at least: (1) perceiving lying as the better way to obtain the goal or end of God’s promises actualizing; (2) that the end justified the means; the truth would not obtain what lying would; Abraham feared death, his staying alive was needed for God to fulfill His promises; and, (3) assuaging the king who would have harmed him. Sarah was technically his sister. Who would be hurt by Sarah and Abraham passing themselves off as brother and sister?
Abraham naturally used lies. Islam naturally uses lies. One way Islam justifies its use of lying and deception comes from its worldview that Islam is always at war with the non-Islamic world, and lying is permitted during war. Abraham was convinced that God was not in the lives of Abimelech and his people. But, we learn from God’s word that God knew full well what was going on with the king and his people. God shows us in Genesis 20 that His ways were not Abraham’s ways. God held Abimelech accountable for taking Sarah, and Abimelech had not yet married her. But, he intended to. God’s mercy reached out to Abimelech before Abraham. God saved Abimelech from sinning against Him. God instructed Abimelech on how to deal with the situation, make restitution to Sarah and Abraham, then submit himself to Abraham to be prayed for. Wow! Talk about a divine makeover!
Abraham was wrong in his outlook that God was not present among king Abimelech and his people. The Islamists are also wrong in believing God is not active in the lives of those outside of Islam. Yet, Muslims slaughter thousands of people God may be actively working with.
Abraham was wrong in his view that lying is ok, for any reason. Muslims are as well.
God’s relations with king Abimelech, like with Abraham, were for life! See also this fact stated at the end of Genesis 20. Instead of having learned from this history of God and Abraham, and God’s value on life, Islamists pursue the death of those not Muslim, all of which may be part of God’s work in ways not discernable to Muslims because of their errors on lying.
God sees and relates to the inward of a person, not just one’s actions. Islam places emphasis on outward acts, when it comes to lying. (RT r16.1)
If Islam claims to be the faith of Abraham, then, like Abraham, do they not also need to be corrected by God regarding lying?
Merely looking at the issue of lying in Islam, the conclusion must be that Islam is a regression from the highest and best religion God ever gave to this world—that which was founded on the one who was like Him, Jesus Christ. The bible makes no mistake in declaring who the true and the final prophet, the standard of purity and holiness, sinless, really is: Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Mohammed is a false prophet. He twisted God’s truth. Mohammed was a misleader. Therefore, Islam misleads.
Jesus would call such a one as Mohammed “one who is of the devil,” as he did those who did not understand God’s ways and misled the people in his day.
I end with two final quotes. You decide.
“Satan, the Chief of Misguidance” (RT w55.3) Islam encourages misguidance.
Jesus Christ, “You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.” (John 8:44)
Islam 101 and Lying Series:
Part I
Moderate Islam
Part II.a
Part II.b
Part II.c
Part III.a
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