How to Recompense for the Discount Received Because of Lying?

Answered by Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan

Question

One day while my friend was visiting me in my home country, we visited a museum. This museum had different admission rates based on whether you are a country citizen or not. She was the one who ordered the tickets, and she was not truthful about her nationality to getting herself a ticket at a discount. Since then, out of guilt, she has released the difference in money out to people in need in my country in hopes of purifying herself of that sin. Is that enough? Does she need to return to the museum and pay the total ticket price?

Please know that she has since left that country but maybe visit again in the future. I feel I will get in trouble going there on her behalf. So if it is to be back to the museum, she would be the one to do so upon her return, which may be years from now.

How do you advise that she proceeds?

Answer

It was incorrect for her to have conveyed incorrect information regarding her nationality to receive a discount. In addition, how she reacted by giving charity instead of the funds she incorrectly saved at the museum is admirable. May Allah bless her and reward her for that kind gesture and intention.

Nonetheless, she still owes that monies to the museum. My advice is that if you are willing, you could go to the museum and advise them that a friend of yours once visited the museum and furnished them with incorrect information to receive a discount. You don’t need to implicate yourself by saying that you were with her or involved. It is also not necessary for you to disclose who precisely the sister was.

The museum manager will likely respect your honesty and probably waive off the debt. What’s important, though, is the lesson behind repaying this debt, emphasizing that Islam is a Religion of honesty, far from deceit and cheating. This action of yours may be a fantastic opportunity of calling to the way of Allah and that of His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Abdurragmaan Khan
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdurragmaan Khan received ijazah’ ammah from various luminaries, including but not restricted to: Habib Umar ibn Hafiz—a personality who affected him greatly and who has changed his relationship with Allah, Maulana Yusuf Karaan—the former Mufti of Cape Town; Habib’ Ali al-Mashhur—the current Mufti of Tarim; Habib’ Umar al-Jaylani—the Shafi’i Mufti of Makkah; Sayyid Ahmad bin Abi Bakr al-Hibshi; Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh; Maulana Abdul Hafiz al-Makki; Shaykh Ala ad-Din al-Afghani; Maulana Fazlur Rahman al-Azami and Shaykh Yahya al-Gawthani among