Mentir

Permitted deception

‘...lying is sometimes permissible fora given interest, scholars having established criteria

defining what types of it are lawful. ’

(Ahmad Ibn Naqib Al-Misri)

Speaking is a means to achieve objectives.

If a praiseworthy aim is attainable through both telling the truth and lying, it is unlawful to accomplish it through lying because there is no need for it. When it is possible to achieve such an aim by lying but not by telling the truth, it is permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible..., and obligatory to lie if the goal is obligatory. ’

(Abu Hamid Ghazali)

Permitted deception

“One should compare the bad consequences entailed by lying to those entailed by telling the truth,

and if the consequences of telling the truth are more damaging, one is entitled to lie...”

(Abu Hamid Ghazali)

From: Umdat al-Salik

Reliance of the Traveller - The Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law_Indexed see sections:

• r.8.1 ‘LYING’,
• r8.2 PERMISSABLE LYING’,
• rO ‘EXAGGERATION’and
• rIO ‘GIVING A MISLEADING IMPRESSION’.

Pragmatism

Lawful deception is a specific example of a deeper ethical issue in Islam:

the end justifies the means:

al-dururat tubih al-mahzurat

“necessity permits what is forbidden”

Yusuf al-Qaradawy

on the jurisprudence of “balancing necessities. "