What is the ruling on using falsehood in da'wah (inviting people to Islam), and is it permissible based on justifications such as the Prophet's—peace and blessings be upon him—permission for lying in three cases, or what was narrated about Imam Abu Hanifa in his debates, or the Prophet's—peace and blessings be upon him—authorization for Muhammad ibn Maslamah and Abu Nailah to lie to Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf, or the statement of Prophet Ibrahim—peace be upon him—: ﴿And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my Lord"﴾?

Lying is a reprehensible and forbidden characteristic that must not be used as a means of da'wah (inviting to Islam). Its condemnation has been mentioned in the texts of revelation, and those who invite to Islam are the foremost people in seeking truthfulness. As for the statement of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, "This is my Lord," and what followed it, it was not a lie. Rather, it was in the manner of descending to the level of the opponent or engaging in debate to invalidate their worship or to rebuke them. This is what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not count among the three lies of Ibrahim. As for the words of the imams, such as Abu Hanifa, they are to be understood as rhetorical questions or arguments, not lies.

All lying is forbidden except for what the Sharī'ah has exempted, which is in three situations: reconciling between people, lying in war, and a man lying to his wife to please her.