Is it permissible for an unmarried sister in her forties, whose mother has passed away and who earns a salary exceeding one thousand pounds, to submit her actual salary statement – even though what is submitted to social insurance is less than that – in order to receive her deceased mother's pension, and then give the entire pension to her younger, needy brother who supports a family, out of fear that this might be impermissible (haram)?

She is entitled to take from her mother's pension an amount equivalent to what was deducted from her salary during her mother's lifetime. This portion is considered property of the heirs and is to be divided according to Islamic inheritance law. There is no harm in presenting a salary statement lower than the actual one if this is the only way to recover her right. Scholars have permitted this based on the principle that lying is permissible if it is a means to achieve a right and does not cause harm to others. Indeed, lying may be permissible or even obligatory if the intended outcome is praiseworthy and cannot be achieved otherwise.