The circumstances in which lying is permissible

Question:
What is the ruling on lying to one’s wife, and in what circumstances is it permissible?

Answer:
The default ruling is that lying is not permissible and that it is among the major sins. It is one of the signs of hypocrisy, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If he makes a promise, he breaks it, and if he disputes, he acts unjustly. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also warned against lying, saying: Lying leads to wickedness, and a man will keep on lying and seeking to lie until he is recorded by Allah as a liar. Lying emboldens one to commit more of it and makes it seem trivial. Allah the Exalted says: So the default is that lying is not permissible, and the only exception is when its benefit outweighs its harm. If a greater benefit results from it, a dispensation is granted, as came in the hadith: There are three circumstances. The first issue is lying to reconcile people, such as when there is some disagreement, conflict, misunderstanding, or hatred between two people or between two groups. A person who wants to reconcile comes and lies to one of the parties, saying that the other praises him, loves him, and wants to make peace with him, in order to soften his heart and bring him closer to his brother. Then he goes to the other and says the same to him, until he brings the two parties closer together and unites them through peace and the removal of resentment and grudges. Lying is permissible in this case for the sake of the greater benefit.
The second circumstance is lying in war, for war is deception, due to the benefit it brings to the Muslims and their victory over their enemy.
The third issue is between spouses, one with the other. A husband may lie to his wife for the sake of marital harmony if there is some disagreement between them. Likewise, if a wife sees some aversion or distance from her husband and lies to him in order to repair what is between them, this is permissible because there is a greater benefit in it. Apart from these three circumstances, lying is not permissible. Yes.