Is it permissible to lie to someone who asks about one's salary for fear of envy?
"Ma'areedh" (allusive speech) is a permissible alternative to lying. This is what Imam Bukhari stated in his , citing the words of Umm Sulaim to her husband Abu Talhah concerning their sick son: "He has calmed down and I hope he has found rest." Thus, "ma'areedh" differs from lying in that it is truthful from the speaker's intended meaning, even if the listener understands something else.
If you are asked about the amount of your salary, you can mention an amount that would not incite envy, such as saying: "My salary is a thousand, and it may increase," intending that it truly does increase. The advice is not to use "ma'areedh" excessively, lest it lead to outright lying.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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