The King's statement in the hadith of the leper, the blind man, and the bald man, "a poor man...," is this not lying?
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The questioner : His saying "a poor man" and so on... this contains lying, O Shaykh, meaning what?
The Shaykh : This means that I am portraying myself in the image of a poor man; this is the portrayal.
The questioner : Well, meaning if he portrayed himself in this way, for example,
The Shaykh : for the sake of benefit, there is no harm; for the sake of benefit, there is no harm.
The questioner : It is not considered lying.
The Shaykh : It is not considered lying, because he does not say, "I am so-and-so, the son of so-and-so," who is himself; rather, he says, "I am portraying the image of this man, or this so-and-so, or something similar to that."
The questioner : No, his saying, "I am a poor man and my way has been cut off," and so on.
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning his intention, may Allah know best, is in the form of a man, or is the King not traveling? Yes, and he does not need food and drink, or does he?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : The angels are self-subsisting; they have no bellies, they do not eat or drink, but they glorify Allah night and day without ceasing. But this is in the category of him portraying himself as this man, in the category of portrayal, or he knows [the truth]. And if it were not for this, if that one came in the form of the King and said, "Give me," yes, he might give him everything he wants if he feared that it was the King, for if he defied him, he would be punished.
The Shaykh : This means that I am portraying myself in the image of a poor man; this is the portrayal.
The questioner : Well, meaning if he portrayed himself in this way, for example,
The Shaykh : for the sake of benefit, there is no harm; for the sake of benefit, there is no harm.
The questioner : It is not considered lying.
The Shaykh : It is not considered lying, because he does not say, "I am so-and-so, the son of so-and-so," who is himself; rather, he says, "I am portraying the image of this man, or this so-and-so, or something similar to that."
The questioner : No, his saying, "I am a poor man and my way has been cut off," and so on.
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning his intention, may Allah know best, is in the form of a man, or is the King not traveling? Yes, and he does not need food and drink, or does he?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : The angels are self-subsisting; they have no bellies, they do not eat or drink, but they glorify Allah night and day without ceasing. But this is in the category of him portraying himself as this man, in the category of portrayal, or he knows [the truth]. And if it were not for this, if that one came in the form of the King and said, "Give me," yes, he might give him everything he wants if he feared that it was the King, for if he defied him, he would be punished.