Is it permissible to lie if someone asks me for something and I say I do not have it, when I actually do, because they usually do not return what they take?

Question:
You say that when one of my female friends or relatives takes something from me, for example a book, a piece of clothing, or money, she does not return it, and I am shy to demand it back. So I decided not to give anyone anything by saying I do not have it, even though I do. Is this permissible or not?

Answer:
If you are afraid that one person will not return the loan, that does not prevent you from lending to the others who do return loans. The fact that one woman or one person does not return a loan does not prevent you from lending to the rest who do return loans. Allah the Exalted said: . So He threatened them and forbade withholding the loan. By "loan" (ma'un) is meant what people need on loan, such as a pot, a cup, a rope, a saddle, and the like. All of this is called a loan. For this reason, some scholars hold that lending is obligatory if the borrower is in need and trustworthy to return it. It is obligatory according to some scholars, while the majority hold that lending is recommended, because it falls under the category of doing good and excellence. As for some people being bad with loans, that specific person who is bad is not lent to. As for the rest of the people, they are lent to. May Allah reward you all with good, and may He do you good.