How does one repent from fabricating false stories to make people laugh, and is it necessary to seek absolution from someone about whom a false story was fabricated?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
You must seek absolution from those against whom you fabricated stories and disavow yourself to those who heard them, if the lie caused harm. Otherwise, remorse, cessation of the act, and a firm resolve not to return to it suffice. Repentance from calumny involves three things: a firm resolve to abandon it, seeking forgiveness from the calumniated person if possible, and disavowing oneself to the listeners. Similarly, one must disavow oneself to those before whom false witness was given. Is it a condition for a slanderer to disavow himself? There are two opinions from Shafi'i and Malik.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Original fatwa ID
- 196500
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy