Back to search
The question

Is our lying to our mentally ill father to avoid the deterioration of his health considered a sin?

Share this answer

Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Lying is fundamentally forbidden, unless there is a legitimate benefit, or a warding off of harm, or reconciliation between disputants. In such cases, it becomes permissible, because speech is a means to achieve objectives. Any commendable objective that can be attained without lying makes lying forbidden in that instance. However, if it cannot be achieved except through lying, then lying becomes permissible. Thus, if the attainment of the objective is permissible, then lying is permissible; and if it is obligatory, then lying is obligatory. In your father's case, if his going out does not result in harm, then take him out wherever he wishes, as long as it does not harm you or him. But if his going out would result in harm, then lying to him is permissible to avert these harms. The safer approach, however, is to use tawriyah (ambiguous speech).

Summary from Ftawy's records · added here

Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.

Read the full answer on Ftawy
Where this answer came from
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
91380
Added here
. This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
Text
Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full ruling
Read the full answer on Ftawy