Page:A Moslem seeker after God - showing Islam at its best in the life and teaching of al-Ghazali, mystic and theologian of the eleventh century (IA moslemseekeraft00zwem).pdf/223



case. If a lie is the only way to reach a good re sult, it is allowable (hallal). A lie is lawful when it is the only path to duty. For example, if a Mos lem flees from an unjust one and you are asked about him, you are obliged to lie in order to save him. If the outcome of war, reconciliation be tween two separated friends, or the safety of an oppressed depends on a lie, then a lie is allowed. In all cases we must be careful not to lie when there is no necessity for it, lest it be haram (wrong). If a wicked person asks a man about his wealth he has to deny having any; and so if a sultan asks a man about a crime he has committed, he has to deny it and say, I have not stolen/ when he did steal; nor done any vice/ when he has done. The Prophet said, He who has done a shameful deed must conceal it, for revealing one disgrace is an other disgrace/ A person must deny the sins of others as well. Making peace between wives is a duty, even by pretending to each of them that she is loved the most, and by making promises to please her.

" We must lie when truth leads to unpleasant re sults, but tell the truth when it leads to good re sults. Lying for one’s pleasure, or for increase of wealth, or for fame is forbidden. One wife must not lie for her husband to tease another wife. Ly ing is allowed in persuading children to go to school; also false promises and false threats."

We get another view of Al-Ghazali’s ethics