Question:

Assalamo alikum,
 
My husband and I bought a house some 6 months ago and did not tell any of our family. Because we have concerns of envy from my husband’s brothers’s wife, as she has previously disclosed jealousy, hatered about myself. Continues to give me and my toddler the ignoring treatment to the point she doesn’t replies to Salam mostly and completely ignore my child.
 
We moved into the house a couple of months back told everyone that we are renting it off-market from an acquaintance.
 
2 weeks ago which was within 10 days of the said woman visiting our house they searched for land title and found the owner name to be ours, they then disclosed it to my husband’s parents and started calling us liar and deceitful.
 
I’m a doctor by profession and my husband was with me in rural to help support my training and he was not earning for quite some time. We knew after passing my exams i can practice in metro location and we needed a place to live and decided to buy house as we could, while I was still employed.
 
On the other hand my husband’s brother lives in my parents in-law house with his family. He makes good money and was wanting my husband to start constructing a duplex so he could have his home (he and wife earns good but did not pay enough tax to help with getting a mortgage). My husband as was not employed told him to either buy a house on his own or wait until he secure a job and can apply to loan with him.
 
Before they could do any loan calculations this has happened and now my parents in law wants us to apologise to husbands brother for being liar and deceitful.
 
I don’t understand why are we being labelled as liars ? As in the past his wife had shed tears on me passing exams and securing job in hospital and shouting n yelling in anger that now you will earn n become rich. I stopped sharing any good news belonging to myself to her.
 
This house was of course a big news for us, we had to hide it from parents as well because otherwise they would have said to disclose it to them as well which we didn’t want and also wanted to stay low key as none of other couples our age in our social circle has a home of their own yet.
 
My husband has been telling his brother to buy own house if he can but if he want to wait then my husband will build it with him as he promised and he never denied doing it.
 
I don’t understand why are we decietful? And why is he not sinful to spy on us and looking for the ownership of our house when we said we are on rent for now ?
 
I read multiple places before taking this step of hiding it from them and it was said it is permissible to lie in order to conceal your worldly blessings/wealth from others if you fear envy/evil eye.
 
Please clarify whether or not we have committed a big sin by hiding/telling lie and are we deceitful in doing so ?
 
JazakAllah

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

At the outset, it is important to realise that this life is a test from Allah Ta’ala and different calamities befall the believers to test their Iman (faith). Consider this ayah of the Quran:   [We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure – 2:155]. As believers, it is our duty to find the solution to our problems in the deen. 
 
You have stated that you fear being afflicted with evil eye. Ayn (evil eye) is established from authentic hadiths, and we are therefore required to believe in it. However, it is incorrect to harbor unnecessary presuppositions of being targeted with evil eye. The Prophet ﷺ has mentioned numerous duas and supplications that provide protection against all evils including ayn. One should resort to these modes of protection and refrain from having unnecessary presuppositions and suspicions.
 
We have not come across any reference suggesting the permissibility of lying in order to conceal one’s worldly blessings. If you deem it extremely necessary to conceal your worldly belongings and overwhelmingly believe that you are susceptible to danger, then it will be permissible to use ta’reed. Ta’reed is to utter a statement that has multiple meanings while intending a correct  meaning, even though the listener may understand a different meaning. [An example of ta'reed is to say "I already had lunch" -- meaning that you had lunch yesterday --  when someone invites you to join him for lunch and you have genuine concern about the halal status of the food and don't deem it appropriate to decline outright]. This should however not be confused with lying  as that is a major sin which incurs the anger and wrath of Allah Ta’ala. Consider the following narrations:

• Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Abide by truthfulness. For indeed truthfulness leads to righteousness. And indeed righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues telling the truth and trying hard to tell the truth until he is recorded with Allah as a truthful person. Refrain from falsehood. For indeed falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A slave (of Allah) continues lying and trying hard to lie, until he is recorded with Allah as a liar." [Jami` at-Tirmidhi - 1971]

 

• Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Three are the signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

  
In short, to lie  is completely impermissible. However, if there is a pressing need, you may resort to ta’reed due to necessity.
 
Based on the above, you and your husband must sincerely repent to Allah Ta’ala for committing this sin. Tawba is complete when the following conditions have been met:

1.       To desist from the sin immediately.
2.       To feel regret and remorse over one’s actions.
3.       To make a firm resolve not to return to the sin.
4.       If another individual’s property or right has been unjustly taken, then it must be returned to the rightful owner.
 
As for your brother-in-law spying on your property, he will be accountable to Allah for it. Islam teaches us to repel evil with good as mentioned in the following ayah: [And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend – 41:34]. Therefore, despite all the misconduct you face from your extended family, you should bear patiently and increase your akhlāq and good conduct towards them. To do so is from the blessed conduct of Nabi ﷺ, and in this lies khair (goodness).
 
Furthermore, your statement indicates that you have financed your home through a mortgage. If this mortgage involves interest, it's crucial to recognize that this is totally haram and by doing so one incurs the wrath of Allah Ta’ala which is a means of destruction in dunya and akhira. Severe admonitions have been issued for those who engage in interest-based transactions. Consider the following:

• O you who believe, fear Allah, and give up what still remains of ribā, if you are believers. But if you do not (give it up), then listen to the declaration of war from Allah and His Messenger. However, if you repent, yours is your principal. Neither wrong, nor be wronged. (Quran 2:278,279)
  
  
• Jabir (Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Nabi ﷺ cursed those who are involved in usury; whether it is the person who is giving usury, receiving it, writing the transaction, or witnessing it. [Muslim]
  ​

Lastly, in order to protect yourself from the harm inflicted by others, we encourage you increase your amāl by establishing the following habits:

•  Be punctual in fulfilling your fardh obligations such as praying five times salat on time.
• Read a portion of the Quran daily.
• Be punctual in your daily adhkar for protection from all evils.
• Recite the ‘manzil’ punctually which is 33 ayaat of protection from the Quran.
• Refrain from spending time on devices unnecessarily.
• Gather your family members and do taleem at home daily. This is to read from an Islamic book. You may read Fazail-e-Amal of Sheikh Zakariya Kandhlawi.*

And Allah Ta'ala knows best.
 
Sh.   Anas Ahsan
14/05/2024
 
Checked  and  approved  by:
Mufti Faizal Riza
 
Darul  Ifta Australia
www.fatwa.org.au

________________________
*References:

))وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ – 41:34))

 

عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ يَزِيدَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لاَ يَحِلُّ الْكَذِبُ إِلاَّ فِي ثَلاَثٍ يُحَدِّثُ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ لِيُرْضِيَهَا وَالْكَذِبُ فِي الْحَرْبِ وَالْكَذِبُ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ مَحْمُودٌ فِي حَدِيثِهِ ‏"‏ لاَ يَصْلُحُ الْكَذِبُ إِلاَّ فِي ثَلاَثٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَسْمَاءَ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ خُثَيْمٍ ‏.‏ (جامع الترمذي: 1939)

 

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النَّبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: (( «آية المنافق ثلاث: إذا حدَّث كذب، وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا ائتمن خان» ))   [متفق عليه]  .

 

في الدر: الكذب مباح لإحياء حقه ودفع الظلم عن نفسه والمراد التعريض لأن عين الكذب حرام قال: وهو الحق قال تعالى - {قتل الخراصون} [الذاريات: 10]

قال الشامي: واعلم أن الكذب قد يباح وقد يجب والضابط فيه كما في تبيين المحارم وغيره عن الإحياء أن كل مقصود محمود يمكن التوصل إليه بالصدق والكذب جميعا، فالكذب فيه حرام، وإن أمكن التوصل إليه بالكذب وحده فمباح إن أبيح تحصيل ذلك المقصود، وواجب إن وجب تحصيله كما لو رأى معصوما اختفى من ظالم يريد قتله أو إيذاءه فالكذب هنا واجب وكذا لو سأله عن وديعة يريد أخذها يجب إنكارها، ومهما كان لا يتم مقصود حرب أو إصلاح ذات البين أو استمالة قلب المجني عليه إلا بالكذب فيباح ... وينبغي أن يقابل مفسدة الكذب بالمفسدة المترتبة على الصدق، فإن كانت مفسدة الصدق أشد، فله الكذب، وإن العكس أو شك حرم، وإن تعلق بنفسه استحب أن لا يكذب وإن تعلق بغيره لم تجز المسامحة لحق غيره والحزم تركه حيث أبيح ... وبعد أسطر: (قوله قال) أي صاحب المجتبى وعبارته قال عليه الصلاة والسلام «كل كذب مكتوب لا محالة إلا ثلاثة الرجل مع امرأته أو ولده والرجل يصلح بين اثنين والحرب فإن الحرب خدعة» ، قال الطحاوي وغيره هو محمول على المعاريض، لأن عين الكذب حرام.... قلت: ويؤيده ما ورد عن علي وعمران بن حصين وغيرهما «إن في المعاريض لمندوحة عن الكذب» وهو حديث حسن له حكم الرفع كما ذكره الجراحي " وذلك كقول من دعي لطعام: أكلت. يعني أمس، وكما في قصة الخليل عليه الصلاة والسلام، وحينئذ فالاستثناء في الحديث لما في الثلاثة من صورة الكذب، وحيث أبيح التعريض لحاجة لا يباح لغيرها لأنه يوهم الكذب، وإن لم يكن اللفظ كذبا قال في الإحياء نعم المعاريض تباح بغرض حقيقي كتطييب قلب الغير بالمزاح كقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم «لا يدخل الجنة عجوز» وقوله «في عين زوجك بياض» وقوله «نحملك على ولد البعير» وما أشبه ذلك (حاشية ابن عابدين – قسم في المعاملات، فصل في البيع: 22/174  ط.دار السلام)

  

في الرسائل الزينية: الثاني والعشرون: في التوبة: وهي: الندم على المعصية من حيث أنها معصية، والعزم على عدم العود إلى مثله، وتحقيق الإقلاع عنها، وردّ المظالم إلى أهلها عند الإمكان، وقضاء ما قصر في فعله من العبادات (الرسائل الزينية في مذهب الحنفية: ص 372، ط. دار السلام)

 

کسی کے بارے میں بدگمانی جائز نہیں، یہ تو پہلی حدیث کا مطلب ہے۔ اور دوسری حدیث کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ جس کام کے بارے میں تردد ہو کہ آیا یہ جائز ہے یا نہیں، تو اس کو نہ کرو (اپ کے مسائل اور ان كا حل: 8/127  ط. مكتبة لدهيانوى) 

 

جھوٹ بولنا فی نفسہ معصیت ہے، کسی حال میں جائز نہیں، البتہ چند مواقع میں فقہاء نے تعریض کی اجازت دی ہے، انہیں میں سے دفع ظلم بھی ہے، اگر دفع ظلم بغیر کذب کے دشوار ہو تو تعریضاً کذب مباح ہے، صراحت حرام ہے اور بغیر ایسی ضرورت کے تعریض بھی جائز نہیں : والكذب حرام إلا في الحرب للخدعة، وفي الصلح بين اثنين، وفي إرضاء الأهل، وفي دفع الظالم عن الظلم والمراد التعريض؛ لأن عين الكذب حرام. قال في المجتبى: وهو الحق. والمراد به التعريض؛ لأن عين الكذب حرام إلالحاجة، الخ. مجمع الأنهر : ٥٥٢/٢(٣) جب یہ فی نفسہ معصیت ہے تو انتقاماً بھی جائز نہیں۔ فقط واللہ سبحانہ وتعالی اعلم.  (فتاوى محمودية: 18/470  ط.إدالرة الفاروق)