Quraysh, and my estrangement from Muhammad. I have learned something that I believe I ought to tell you out of sincere concern for you, so keep my confidence.’
“They replied, ‘We will.’
“He said, ‘Do you know that the Jews have regretted abandoning Muhammad? They have sent him word: “We regret what we have done. Would it please you if we took men from Quraysh and Ghatafān as hostages and handed them over to you to behead, then joined you against those who remain until we wiped them out?”’
“He then went to Ghatafān and told them the same thing. When Saturday night came—and this was something Allah, Mighty and Majestic, brought about for His Messenger and the believers—Abū Sufyān sent Ikrimah ibn Abī Jahl with a group from Quraysh and Ghatafān to Banū Qurayzah, saying, ‘We cannot remain here, and our camels and horses have perished. March out to battle tomorrow morning so that we can fight Muhammad to a decisive conclusion.’
“They sent him word: ‘Today is the Sabbath, and you know what befell those who transgressed on the Sabbath. Moreover, we will not fight alongside you until you give us hostages.’
“When the messenger returned with this reply, they said, ‘By Allah, Nuaym ibn Masūd told us the truth!’ Allah caused them to abandon one another, and their unity broke down. He sent a violent wind against them on bitterly cold nights, overturning their tents and upending their cooking pots, so they departed.” Such lying is recommended.
Fourth: lying through which a person hopes to benefit himself without harming anyone else, such as a man lying to his wife in the promises he makes to win her goodwill. The Sunnah permits such lying, as related in the following report: “A man said to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘May I lie to my wife?’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, ‘There is no good in lying.’ The man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I make her promises and say things to her.’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, ‘There is no blame upon you.’”
It has been said that only indirect expressions are permissible in this case, rather than outright lies. The first view, however, is more correct: explicitly lying in such circumstances is permissible. This is indicated by the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, quoting Abraham, peace be upon him:
“Rather, this one—the largest of them—did it.” [al-Anbiyā’: 63]
And by His words in the account of Joseph, peace be upon him:
“When he had furnished them with their provisions, he placed the drinking cup in his brother’s baggage. Then a herald called out, ‘O caravan! You are surely thieves!’” [Yūsuf: 70]
Up to His words:
“Thus We devised a plan for Joseph. He could not have taken his brother under the king’s law unless Allah had willed it.” [Yūsuf: 76]
It has also been said that equivocal speech is permissible in every