THIRD REMINDER. Wednesday. HALAAL LIES IN ISLAM? . BismilLahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Many take the permission of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, to lie in three exceptional cases in the wrong way as a justification for white lies. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "A liar is not one who tries to bring reconciliation amongst people and speaks good (in order to avert dispute), or he conveys good." [Muslim]. Commenting on this Hadeeth, Ibn Shihaab, one of the transmitters, said that he has not heard that the exemption was granted with regard to the typical lies that people tell but in three cases: In war in order to cause reconciliation among people and in the narration of the words of the husband to his wife to create piece, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband (in a euphemistic way in order to cause reconciliation between them). Some may take this as a license to take truthfulness lightly and tell what they think to be white, harmless lies. The case is the opposite. The scholars of Islam agree with reports of Imaam an-Nawawi, that a Muslim is permitted, indeed, required, to hide an innocent or wrongly persecuted person from oppressors, and if he must lie in this pursuit, he can. But even in such cases, lying should be avoided if possible. Imam Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq the most truthful man of the ‘Ummah who accompanied the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, on his journey to Madeenah, was accosted by an acquaintance of his who did not know the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, by face but had probably heard of the Makkan search for him. He asked Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, about his companion, to which Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "He is my guide. He shows me the way." Abu Bakr did not lie even in such dire circumstances, but simply equivocated. The case of "lying" allowed for a husband speaking to his wife (or vice versa) is similar. When a wife asks her husband if he loves her or thinks she looks beautiful, the answer is not always clear even to the husband. Depending on his state of mind and their relationship, the woman who looks perfectly beautiful and loveable to him most of the time might look not so at the moment. Especially, when influenced by Satan's whispers, one's wife often looks less attractive than other women, even if the opposite is true. Since the usual standard of truthfulness in Islam is so meticulous and high, the husband is allowed to say what pleases her or helps reconcile her heart, even if at that moment he does not feel exactly that way. Saying that he loves his wife is likely in fact to recall in his mind what he loves about her and bring happiness and incite more love in her heart. Thus, the statements made to please one's spouse are not, strictly speaking, "lying" in our ordinary usage. With this exception, lying to one's spouse in any other situation or any other way is as prohibited and despised as in any other. A relationship built on lies cannot last for very long, let alone be blessed with "mercy" and "love" that Allaah promises to place between spouses [Quran 30:21]. Finally, take the case of war. War is fought to overcome and often destroy the other side. But even in this situation, the rule in the Quran is to never deceive in principle. People often misunderstand what the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, famously said, namely, that "War is khud'ah (stratagem)." Khud'ah is stratagem, a tactical maneuver to mislead the enemy. It is not treachery, deception, or breach of agreement, which would be khiyaanah, and Allaah emphatically prohibits that. Allaah Almighty Says (what means): {If you fear treachery (khiyaana) from any group, openly throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allaah loves not the treacherous.} [Quran 8:58]. Imagine the level of integrity required, such that even when you fear the enemy's breach of treaty and attack, you do not simply unilaterally end the treaty and attack them, but, rather, let your enemy know that the treaty is over. Allahu Akbar. May Allah keep guiding us all and aid us to adhere to what we learn. Aameen.