Is it considered a lie for a person to say "I don't know" or to answer incorrectly when asked about their personal secrets or their family's secrets, in order to avoid interference in their private affairs?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a person is asked about private matters that he knows, his saying: "I don't know" is a lie that is impermissible. Euphemisms can be used, such as: "Allah knows best," or one can refrain from answering, as the question is not originally obligatory. It is mentioned that "part of the perfection of a person's Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/89934
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 89934
- 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