The Ruling on Lying to Avoid Problems

Question:
The questioner says—O Shaykh: That she always lies to her mother at times, for example, she buys a dress for two hundred riyals and tells her mother: "I bought it for one hundred riyals," in order to prevent problems, knowing that this money is from her own funds. What is the ruling on this action, O Shaykh?

Answer:
The most likely view—and Allah knows best—is that there is no harm; because she does not harm anyone by it, and in that she avoids what might cause her mother to become angry with her. So there is no harm—if Allah wills—if the reality is as the questioner described, and that if she told her mother the truth, her mother would become angry with her. The safest course for her is to lower the price so that her mother does not become angry with her. And this lie does not harm anyone. Yes, it falls under reconciliation in the authentic hadith from the hadith of Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of 'Uqbah, who said: "I did not hear the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permit anything of lying except in three cases: in war, a man's speech to his wife, and a woman's speech to her husband, and in reconciliation." And this—if Allah wills—falls under reconciliation; because her truthfulness might cause problems for her with her mother. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.