Is it permissible for a person to reduce their declared income in official documents to benefit from government assistance, knowing that their real income is insufficient to cover their basic expenses and exorbitant medical bills, and that this manipulation is the only way to avoid accumulating debt?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is obligatory for a Muslim to adhere to the conditions for eligibility for aid, and it is not permissible for him to cheat and lie to take what he is not entitled to. Lying is forbidden except out of necessity, which is when a person reaches a point where, if they do not consume what is forbidden, they would perish or be close to perishing.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/67489
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 67489
- 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