What is the ruling on lying to defend others or to conceal personal information, such as a person who gives charity denying their act of charity?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Lying is permissible to defend someone who is in the right, to save them from destruction, harm, or injustice. However, if defending them involves falsehood, lying is not permissible. Some jurists consider lying permissible to conceal a secret charity for a benefit, such as avoiding ostentation. Using ma'areedh (allusion/equivocation) is preferable to lying if the intended meaning can be achieved through it, as it offers a broader scope than lying when compelled to reveal a secret.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/169378
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 169378
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- . 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