What is the ruling on someone who lies to their friend with a lie that does not harm or cause discord, and the purpose of this lie is to test them?
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Khamenei (may God protect him):
Lying is prohibited; it is the act of intentionally stating something contrary to reality. A liar knowingly reports something that is false. Therefore, what you mentioned about saying something that is not true or doing the opposite is considered a forbidden lie.
However, it is permissible to use ambiguity, which means to intend a meaning from the words that has a basis in reality, but is contrary to the apparent meaning.
Lying is also permissible in the following cases:
1. To prevent harm to oneself.
2. To prevent harm to a believer.
3. To reconcile between believers.
Source: Special Inquiry: 1, 2.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani (may God protect him):
Lying is prohibited whether it is to a friend or anyone else. However, it is permissible to lie to prevent harm to oneself or to a believer, and it is even permissible to swear falsely in such cases. Lying is also allowed for reconciling between believers, and it is obligatory to limit this to situations where ambiguity is not feasible.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 2, Introduction, M38
May you be successful in all good.