Is it permissible to lie in order to obtain and maintain a job?

Q: Under exceptional circumstances, I understand one can lie. If someone has not had a job for a long time and desperately equires an income, can they lie in order to secure a job? What if they have witnessed others lie for the job and get it?

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب

A: Even if it is conceded that lying under certain exceptional circumstances refers to actual lying and not to implying something without actually lying (known to as ta’reedh), the situation of the individual described does not qualify for that.  Lying about one’s experience is not to claim a right owed to oneself or to benefit the third party but rather to deceive and defraud the other party of the necessary competence and experience they seek.

However, if one did manage to secure the employment whilst lying about one’s experience, but competently performed the function as an employee, then, whilst one would incur the sin of lying, the earning itself would be lawful as the earning is for the actual performance of the role.

 

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