A stratagem for concealing one’s salary from one’s father

Question

A young man says that when he receives his salary, his father asks him for it, and out of modesty and respect the young man hands over all the money. After that his father gives him money only for fares and expenses, but this is not enough for him. So the young man tells his father that his salary is less and gives him less. Is it permissible for the young man to act in this way or not? And does this count as theft according to the Shari‘a or not?

Answer

When he receives his salary, he should leave the amount he needs with someone else and say, “This is all the money I have”; or he should meet his needs by borrowing from some friend and, as soon as he receives his salary, first repay that friend’s loan. In this way there is room for it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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