Is it permissible to accuse someone who denies a debt of having stolen the money, and to swear to that in order to reclaim the usurped right through the judiciary, without addition or reduction?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a person has borrowed money from you or taken a loan and then denied it, it is permissible for you to swear that they stole it. This is because many scholars have permitted lying to reclaim a right. However, it is preferable to use circumlocution and indirect speech if possible. Some scholars are of the opinion that a person who denies having received a borrowed item is considered a thief, citing the of Aisha concerning the Makhzumi woman who used to borrow items and deny them, whereupon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered that her hand be cut off.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/101527
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 101527
- 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