Exaggeration in Speech and Whether It Is Considered Lying

17-2-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu AlaikumIs it considered lying when a person exaggerates sometimes when he speaks. Like for example He says : ‘I told you a thousand times’ or when he says ‘ So and so had more than 50 bodyguards’ when in reality he had some less than that (like maybe 35-40)Jazakallah Khair

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

This is not regarded as prohibited lying. Rather, it falls under exaggeration, which is a recognized form of figurative expression and eloquence.

Al-Yaʿqubi stated in his poetic work Mahārim al-Lisān:

“They permitted overstatement in speech by way of exaggeration, even to the extent of describing what is ordinarily impossible.”

Allah Knows best.