Musnad Ishaq

Benefits:
Shariah has declared lying to be forbidden, and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has called those who lie hypocrites, and upon such people descends the curse of Allah, the Possessor of Majesty. However, in a few situations, lying has been permitted. In the aforementioned hadith, it is stated that lying is permissible in three situations:

➊ Lying between husband and wife: ... The relationship between husband and wife is the greatest of relationships. If love remains between them, life is enjoyable. If discord arises, homes are ruined. To maintain and preserve this sacred relationship, Islam has established numerous rulings, and to avoid all kinds of discord, even the allowance of lying has been given. However, the permissibility of lying between spouses does not mean deception. As Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) has written, what is meant by the husband lying to the wife and the wife to the husband is that they do so for mutual love and affection. However, there is consensus among the people of Islam on the prohibition of using trickery or deceit in fulfilling one’s obligations or in order to obtain an unlawful right. (Sharh Muslim by al-Nawawi: 6/158)

Shaykh al-Albani (rahimahullah) writes: Among the permissible lies is not that he (the husband) promises her (the wife) something which he has no intention of fulfilling, nor is it meant that to please her he says, “I bought such-and-such thing for you at such-and-such price,” which is higher than the actual price. Because if the real situation is ever revealed, then this becomes a cause for suspicion about the husband, and this is a cause of corruption, not of reconciliation. (Silsilat al-Sahihah, no. 498)

‘Allamah Ibn al-Malik says regarding the lies spoken between husband and wife: If one says to the other, “There is no one dearer to me than you,” (then this will not be considered a lie). (Mirqat al-Mafatih: 8/766)

➋ Lying for reconciliation: ... Islam has never tolerated division and discord among Muslims, and Allah Himself has encouraged reconciliation, to the extent that if lying is necessary for reconciliation, then even that is permitted, but making peace is essential.

Imam Khattabi (rahimahullah) writes: What is meant by lying when reconciling between two (people) is that a person conveys good words from one to the other, gives good news, even if he did not hear such news, and the intention is to bring about reconciliation.

➌ Lying in war: ... Allah, the Possessor of Majesty, has commanded fighting in the path of Allah for the protection of this firm religion, because “Islam is superior and nothing is superior to it,” and secrecy is of great importance in war, and as long as a secret is not kept, it does not remain a secret. In view of this necessity, and to deceive the enemy, lying has also been permitted. Because “war is deception”... and deception is not possible without lying or something resembling lying.

‘Allamah Ibn al-Malik (rahimahullah) says: Lying in war is, for example, to say: “The army of Islam is great in number. They have received much help.” Or to say: “Look behind you, so-and-so has come to strike you from behind.” (Mirqat al-Mafatih: 8/766)

➍ Lying out of fear for life or wealth: ... The scholars also permit this. They deduce from this blessed verse:
﴿مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللّٰهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ﴾ (an-Nahl: 106)
“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief—except for one who is compelled while his heart is secure in faith...”

Qadi ‘Iyad (rahimahullah) has said: There is no difference of opinion in this matter that if a person has someone hiding with him and an oppressor wants to kill him unjustly, then it is obligatory for that person to feign ignorance by lying about him. (Sharh Muslim by al-Nawawi)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) says: If he is made to swear an oath about it, then he will not be sinful. (Fath al-Bari: 5/300)