Answered by: Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza
Question
Assalamulaikum
A brother lent money to someone but has a feeling that the person is going to take advantage and delay/prolong the payment. Hence, he asks the brother can you pay me back as soon as possible because I have bills etc to pay. Reality is, no bills are due but تأويلا (in theory), he’ll have to pay bills in the future. Does this count as lying?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Firstly, a time frame should have been stipulated[1]. If the person who owes exceeds that time, the lender can insist on speeding up in paying back. As for paying bills, or the potential of the highest risk of bills, this must be considered with good opinion. Not all lenders divulge their private expenses due to it being a matter of a personal nature. Hence, this will not be lying. In fact, a person could have lent money in an already precarious situation and the situation does not have to have changed or worsened.
As for specifically stating the reason, whilst that reason has no reality to back it, that would be classed as a lie.
Only Allah knows best
Answered by Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] “The Muslims are bound by their conditions, except a condition that forbids what is permissible or permits what is forbidden.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1352)