Hadith on Dishonesty: Telling white lies or necessary lies

Asma’ bint Yazid reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It is not allowed to lie except in three cases: a man conversing with his wife to please her, to lie in warfare, and to lie in order to reconcile people.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 1939

Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Tirmidhi

Imam al-Khattabi commented, “These are matters in which a person may be compelled to say more or exaggerate the truth to seek safety and avoid harm. In some situations, a concession has been granted to commit a lesser wrongdoing to achieve a better outcome.”

Source: Sharḥ al-Sunnah lil-Baghawī 13/119

عَنْ ‌أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ يَزِيدَ قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَحِلُّ الْكَذِبُ إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثٍ يُحَدِّثُ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ لِيُرْضِيَهَا وَالْكَذِبُ فِي الْحَرْبِ وَالْكَذِبُ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

1939 سنن الترمذي أبواب البر والصلة باب ما جاء في إصلاح ذات البين

3/494 المحدث الترمذي خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن في سنن الترمذي

قَالَ الْخطابِيّ هَذِهِ أُمُورٌ قَدْ يَضْطَرُّ الْإِنْسَانُ فِيهَا إِلَى زِيَادَةِ الْقَوْلِ وَمُجَاوَزَةِ الصِّدْقِ طَلَبًا لِلسَّلَامَةِ وَدَفْعًا لِلضَّرَرِ وَقَدْ رَخَّصَ فِي بَعْضِ الْأَحْوَالِ فِي الْيَسِيرِ مِنَ الْإِفْسَادِ لِمَا يُؤْمَلُ فِيهِ الْكَثِيرُ مِنَ الْإِصْلَاحِ

13/119 شرح السنة للبغوي كتاب البر والصلة باب إصلاح ذات البين وإباحة الكذب فيه

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Abu Amina Elias
Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is an academic librarian, researcher, and translator specializing in the Quran, Hadith, and their commentaries. He is a former instructor of Islamic Creed for Mishkah University.
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