The Ruling on Lying out of Fear of Showing Off and the Permissible Instances of Lying

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, is it permissible to lie if one is afraid of showing off (riya')? And is it considered the lesser of two evils?

Answer:
Lying is not permissible except in three instances. The first is lying to remove the oppression of an oppressor by concealing the truth from him to lift the oppression from the victim. This is lying, but the intention is to remove the oppression of the oppressor from one who wants to take your wealth, or wants to kill you, or wants to harm you. You lie to him in order to ward off his harm, and it is permissible in this case. The second is in the matter of war. In the matter of war, it is permissible to lie to the polytheists and to display something that has no reality in terms of strength in order to intimidate them. Lying in war as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said. The third is between husband and wife for the sake of improving their relationship. He lies to her, saying, "I love you intensely, and I, and I," and she, if she sees that in him, says, "You are the most precious of men to me, and you, and you," for the sake of the relationship. Lying is permissible in these three cases. Yes.