Has it ever happened to you that, in rare cases, you had to tell a beneficial lie? But what is the ruling on a beneficial lie? To find the answer to this question, stay with Saed News.
A beneficial lie is a lie told with the intention of achieving a certain benefit. The repugnance of lying in ethics and jurisprudence is established through logical and transmitted evidence. Most Shiite scholars believe that the repugnance of lying is not intrinsic. They argue, based on logical and textual evidence, that lying can be permissible and sometimes necessary when it is in the interest of achieving a greater benefit.
Upon reflecting on the evidence supporting the permissibility of a beneficial lie, it becomes clear that the "benefit" in such a lie is not a general benefit but rather a necessity or a benefit aimed at improving human relationships.
What is the ruling on beneficial lies in Islam? Question: What is the ruling on beneficial lies in Islam? Did prophets and great leaders speak such lies?
Answer: Lying is inherently a very bad act, and many of the problems and misfortunes in today's society are caused by lies. Some statements from the Imams (peace be upon them) consider lying as the key to other sins. However, if a person tells a lie in order to create harmony, love, or remove enmity, this lie is not prohibited.
Yet, in some exceptional cases, lying may prevent a greater evil, and if the truth were told, a large-scale fitna (sedition) could arise. For example, if there is a strong disagreement between two people, and one speaks ill of the other, and we know that if we tell the truth and reveal their slander, a fitna will occur that could lead to significant losses, then telling the truth in such cases would be incorrect. It is universally accepted that when the harm of revealing the truth outweighs the benefit, it is better to refrain from doing so.
Islamic laws support this rational principle and permit lying in exceptional circumstances when it is necessary. However, two things must be carefully considered: first, this principle is entirely exceptional, and lying is not allowed except in very specific situations, and second, Islam places such importance on truthfulness that even in cases where lying is necessary, it permits "taqiyyah" (concealment of the truth) to avoid the harm of lying.
Taqiyyah means saying something that, though not entirely false, can be interpreted in a way that does not cause harm. For example, if someone asks whether a person has said something bad about another, one might say, "Not while I was there," which is technically true, but may lead the listener to believe the person never made the remark.
Is there any justification for a beneficial lie in Islamic teachings? Lying for the benefit of others is only justified in cases of necessity. These necessities include coercion, extreme necessity, or situations where the person is forced to choose between two wrongs. If telling the truth causes more harm than the lie, then lying is permissible.
In conclusion, "beneficial lying" refers to lies told out of necessity or to prevent harm, not simply for personal gain or general benefits. From both rational and religious perspectives, lying is only justified when there is a genuine need, such as for the protection of one's life, honor, or when it helps to resolve conflicts between people.
