Question No. 3469 10 September 2026 Official answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat) verified Content level: Intermediate

Is It Wrong to Lie in Order to Ward Off Harm?

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Dear questioner, Master Ali Saei

Tracking code: #Q-3469

In what circumstances is it not wrong to lie? One of the spiritual masters related that a guest once came to his home. He knew that one of the guests drank alcohol. That night, the man asked to borrow his car so he could go and buy alcohol. The master said, “My car is broken.” But by morning, he felt that all his spiritual reserves had been drained; he was completely empty. He called the seminary that morning and explained what had happened. They told him, “You warded off one wrong with another, and that is permissible.” But if it is permissible, why did he feel he had lost all his spiritual reserves?
َّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ

Subject category: Ethics and Spirituality

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Lying to ward off harm is not right unless it amounts to an explicit disavowal of the other person’s act, and it drains one’s spiritual reserves. It is better to refuse the request outright than to lie, so the other person may recognize the wrongness of what they intend to do. If the car is broken, say so plainly, without implying that you would lend it if it were in working order.

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

Teacher and researcher in the intellectual tradition of wisdom and the Ahl al-Bayt | Soroush Bamdadān Cultural Center

Since he knew that the man wanted to use his vehicle to go drinking, he should have explicitly refused his request, thereby disavowing the man’s actions and confronting him with a clear rebuke. Saying, “My car is broken,” implies that, had it not been broken, he would have lent it to him—even though he intended to go drinking. This does nothing to make him aware of how wrong his conduct is.

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Is It Wrong to Lie in Order to Ward Off Harm?

The essence and first answer at a glance (60-word summary)

Answer by Master Ali Saei (Abdullah Meshkat)

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