Lying to children

Reference: Fataawa wa Rasaa.il Mukhtaarah – Page 533

Question: Is it permissible to lie to a child of six years of age for his benefit and [also] to discipline him?

Response: Lying is not permissible; Not to the young and nor to the old. And if children are lied to, then they conceal [the truth], and if the adults lie, then the young learn from them and seek pleasure in it.

It has been mentioned on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Aamir (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhu) that he said: My mother called me one day whilst the Messenger of Allaah was sitting in our house and she said: “Come here and I’ll give you (something)”. So the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:

«And what did you want to give him?»

She said: “I want to give him a date”. So the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said to her:

«Certainly, if you do not give him anything, then it will be written that you told a lie» – transmitted by Ahmad, and Abu Daawood.

And with Allaah lies all success.

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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