Ruling on Increasing Age on Official Documents for Visa or Immigration Purposes
✍ Fatwa by: Shaykh Saʿīd Mujtabā Saʿīdī ḥafiẓahullāh
Some individuals intentionally increase their age on national identity cards or official documents in order to secure visas or facilitate travel to countries like Saudi Arabia or the United States. What is the Islamic ruling on this practice?
✔ This act is considered lying and deception in Islamic law.
✔ Therefore, it is categorically prohibited (ḥarām).
◈ Altering factual information such as one’s age on official documents involves false representation, which is a form of dishonesty and fraud.
◈ Islam strictly forbids all forms of deception, even if they are done with the intention of obtaining worldly benefit.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"من غش فليس منا"
"Whoever deceives is not from us."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
✔ Modifying one’s age on identification documents for visa, immigration, or employment purposes is Islamically impermissible.
✔ It constitutes lying and deceit, and should be avoided completely.
✍ Fatwa by: Shaykh Saʿīd Mujtabā Saʿīdī ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
Some individuals intentionally increase their age on national identity cards or official documents in order to secure visas or facilitate travel to countries like Saudi Arabia or the United States. What is the Islamic ruling on this practice?
❖ Answer:
✔ This act is considered lying and deception in Islamic law.
✔ Therefore, it is categorically prohibited (ḥarām).
❖ Explanation:
◈ Altering factual information such as one’s age on official documents involves false representation, which is a form of dishonesty and fraud.
◈ Islam strictly forbids all forms of deception, even if they are done with the intention of obtaining worldly benefit.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
"من غش فليس منا"
"Whoever deceives is not from us."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Modifying one’s age on identification documents for visa, immigration, or employment purposes is Islamically impermissible.
✔ It constitutes lying and deceit, and should be avoided completely.
