What is the ruling on tawriya?

Ta'wiyah (figurative speech, or double entendre) is when the speaker intends a meaning with their words that differs from the apparent one. It is permissible under two conditions: that the wording allows for the intended meaning, and that the ta'wiyah does not involve injustice. For example, if a person says: "I only sleep on a peg," and intends a mountain, this is a valid ta'wiyah. Similarly, if they say: "I only sleep under a roof," and intend the sky, this is a valid ta'wiyah, based on the Almighty's saying: (And We made the sky a protected roof).

However, if ta'wiyah is used for injustice, it is not permissible, such as someone who swears over wealth unjustly and says: "By Allah, he has nothing with me," while intending: "By Allah, the One for whom he has something with me." This is a false and unjust ta'wiyah, and "Your oath is according to what your companion believes you mean."

As for the case of a wife accused of infidelity being innocent, if the husband says: "By Allah, she is my sister," and intends his sister in Islam, this is a valid hint (ta'rid) because it contains no injustice.