Is it permissible to use stratagem and deception in war, and is it considered treachery and betrayal?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Allah has forbidden treachery and condemned its perpetrators, threatening them with punishment and considering it one of the characteristics of hypocrisy. Despite this, the Shari'ah has permitted deception in warfare to achieve victory, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "War is deception." This does not contradict the prohibition of treachery, for the Shari'ah has distinguished between permissible means of stratagem and what involves treachery and the breaking of covenants.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/16198
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 16198
- 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