the view of many scholars. Yet some scholars maintain that lying is never permissible under any circumstances—neither in jest nor in earnest, whether or not it involves the wrongful consumption of wealth.

The most serious kind of lie is for a person to fabricate a statement and swear an oath in order to devour people’s property unlawfully. This includes someone against whom a rightful claim is brought who then denies it, declaring, “By Allah, you have no claim against me,” or someone who asserts a claim that is not his, saying, “You owe me such-and-such,” while he knows he is lying. If he swears to such a false claim, that is the yamin ghamus, the “plunging oath” that immerses its perpetrator in sin and then plunges him into the Fire—may Allah protect us.

It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever deliberately swears an oath in order to seize the property of a Muslim while he is a perjurer therein will meet Allah while He is angry with him.” The conclusion is that lying is forbidden; a person may not lie at all, whether joking or serious, except in the three aforementioned situations—and even there the scholars differ over how to understand the earlier hadith.

55 – On the authority of Abū Muḥammad al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: I memorized from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace): “Leave that which causes you doubt for that which causes you no doubt, for truthfulness brings tranquillity, whereas lying breeds doubt.” Related by al-Tirmidhī, who declared it authentic.