Lying to ward off oppression

Question

Respected sir, the request is that after perusing this writing you too kindly write; even if the answer is delayed, there is no harm. Kindly write after full research, with evidence and references, and make du‘a for a good end with faith. In Bayan al-Qur’an, on the last page of the para “Rubama”, in the commentary on the verse “وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ…” (Surah al-Nahl, 16:126), a little after the third ruku‘ of the para “Iqtaraba” on the verse “ومن عاقب بمثل ما عوقبتم به…

Answer

Lying is in itself a sin and is not permissible under any circumstances. However, in a few situations the fuqaha’ have permitted allusion (ta‘rid), and among them is warding off oppression. If warding off oppression without lying is difficult, then lying by way of allusion is mubah, while explicit lying is haram; and without such a necessity even allusion is not permissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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