Is it considered a lie, and is one sinful for it, when someone says to their children, "I will eat you," but then does not do so, and they do not intend the literal meaning of the word?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Lying to children is impermissible due to its severe harm to their upbringing. This is supported by the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "Whoever says to a child, 'Come, here you are,' and then gives him nothing, it is a lie." Furthermore, lying to children does not fall under the three permissible exceptions mentioned in the of Umm Kulthum bint 'Uqbah, which are: lying in war, reconciling between people, and a man speaking to his wife or a woman to her husband.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/65629
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 65629
- 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.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy