Islamic marriage advice and family advice

Lying for a better life….is it halal or haram?

Passport immigration stamp

Assalaamu Aleikum,

This is a question that I have always wondered about , but it’s very hard to find the right people to ask, because it can a touchy subject and some might get offended.

There are some people that come to the west by forging their immigration documents. I believe it’s mostly people who are considered refugees, seeking to live in a safer country with less turmoil. I know people and have friends that came to United States by lying about their birthdates to meet cutoffs. Others will state that so and so is their mother and father (when in reality they barely know each other) making it easier for sponsoring purposes. Also, if someone obtains a citizenship he/she will marry another who’s not a citizen in order to bring them to the states and get divorced later on. When they actually get to America they live separately as if they never knew each other. In the process people end up changing their names, and living completely different lives. I always wondered about the Islamic ruling of such behavior. I have asked some of my friends if this is halal or haram (these are people I know came through this process), and they’re response was that it’s not haram to lie to non Muslims!!!! Obviously that’s not a good response, but I just want to know, is it ok to lie and forge documents in order to attain a better life.

Another issue that I notice is that some people will have different addresses, one where they actually live, and another that they document in legal papers. My hypothesis is that due to the method they came with, they’re usually housed together. Also in taxes, and other legal documents this initial lie is still carried over. Which brings the question of when someone claims children who aren’t actually his, is the money they get back from taxes haram or halal.Im sorry if I’m being confusing, to be honest I myself don’t understand the ins and outs of this process, all I know is that it doesn’t seem right.

I don’t want to offend any one, nor am I judging, but I just want to understand is it haram to come to a country this way, does the fact that they’re refugees make it halal to lie in order to live a better life.

I want to know because I will be marrying in to a family inshallah, whom I think came this way. It's important that I know the rulling on this because I dont want to futher drag this sin(if it is haram).

Thank you

Amona

 

 

 


Tagged as: , , , , , , ,

7 Responses »

  1. Claiming kids to get government benefits is a serious fraud, as is getting green cards by lying. One can go to prison for that. I am sure these people lie to Muslims too. Most people pretend to be very religous, but behave like if there is no God. Just make sure person you want to marry has legal papers. Many Muslims will not do such things. What difference it will make to you if what they did is halal or haram. From your comment I can guess you will not do these things.

    • I know a lot of women with Hijjab and Niqab who Nikkah but do not register marriage and use their kids to get government benefits and live in government housing. And the husband lives with her or has more than one wife threw Nikkah and he does not work and they collect government money.

      The men goes to the Musjid and are there all the time and ask my father oh he should go all the time.
      But my father has a full time job.

      I went to school with kids like this. And they tell me all the government things they get for free.

  2. Salaams,

    I personally believe there are distinct situations where deception is not sinful, however these are basically limited to times when the governing body or laws are unjust or corrupt and being truthful or honest would adversely affect one's circumstance needlessly or affect others in a negative way. For example, in Nazi Germany, citizens were to report to authorities any time they knew a Jew was being hidden or protected. Yet we all know that many citizens put their own lives on the line to hide Jews or take care of them because to do otherwise would mean sending a fellow human being to their death in a concentration camp. In a nutshell, the laws governing Germany at that time were inhumane, so breaking them or being dishonest was merited to save the lives of others.

    In the case you are talking about, I don't believe the immigration laws of the US are unfair or unjust. Yes they are onerous and time consuming, and applications can get mired in red tape for immigrants, but I don't believe that this unilaterally means that deception is permissable in order to gain entry to the US. If someone is a refugee and it is imperative for them to get to another place for safety, there are so many other countries that are available for this other than the US. Sometimes it's more practical for a Palestinian refugee to flee to Lebanon than apply for US asylum.

    One of the repercussions of having too many immigrants coming into a country is that it undermines the socioeconomic balance and creates a burden on available social programs that refugees may be eligible for. In the US, refugees can apply for welfare (food stamps, medicaid, etc) as soon as they arrive, but regular immigrants who go through the full application process must be a citizen for 5 years before doing so; even if they are hard-working, poor, and have a large family. This bleeds the funding for such programs away from others who may need the resources just as much, and creates resentment between ethnic groups and socioeconomic classes. An influx of refugees seeking work puts other citizens at a disadvantage, because many employers are willing to take the refugees over others in order to pay lower wages or skirt other labor laws in a corrupt way.

    I think anyone coming to another country should be as open and honest in their disclosures as possible. This ensures that if and when they do get accepted for immigration, they won't have to worry about getting caught somehow later and risk deportation. Americans in general have more respect for those who do things according to the outlined processes and laws, and little respect for people who are trying to "get over" or cheat the system.

    And by the way, there's no precept in Islam that green-light's lying to non-Muslims on a whim or about anything. Prophet Muhammad SAWS said that one of the signs of a hypocrite is that "when he speaks, he lies"....and didn't make any exception for when it's "OK" to lie.

    -Amy
    IslamicAnswers.com Editor

  3. Wa Alaikum AsSalaam Sister,

    Great question. I cannot give it the answer it deserves, but there are some people on this forum who have studied or are studying, and should be able to answer when they find the time.

    But you are right. To say that it is not haram to lie to non-muslims is not accurate. It is similar to an American habit of which I am sure you are familiar. We often attempt to justify an action by quoting a right protected by amendments of the Constitution, with very little consideration for pre-qualifying conditions or restrictions, without which would be an infringement on the rights of others.

    This may seem off topic, but I would suggest that while you learn more about the Islamic rulings on this issue, you also study American history from the end of the Civil War to present; more specifically, immigration law from the end of Reconstruction to WWII, and American foreign policy after WWII (the Cold War), especially in Central and South America. If you haven't done so already, a study of these eras, will help to broaden your understanding of international attitudes toward the United States and U.S. law or immigration law (any pre-grad history text will do). I don't make this suggestion to justify wrong action. What Allah says is wrong is wrong. But to apply the proper ruling, you have to hear the case.

    Also, Masha'Allah, it is very important to be selective as a Muslima about the kind of family you marry into. May Allah give you the best.

    Hana

  4. Assalaamualaikam

    As Muslims, we should strive to behave in accordance with the laws of the country we are in, so long as those laws do not go against Islam (that is, so long as they are not unjust, as Amy has described). So, we shouldn't try to commit fraud, enter a country by deception, or otherwise manipulate people.

    If you are concerned that the family into which you plan to marry may have entered the country illegally, or committed fraud, you may wish to discuss the matter with them if you have a good enough relationship with them. The circumstances of any fraud would be important to take into consideration, as would any repentance or regret, but I would be concerned that such actions don't reflect well on their character and integrity. When we marry, we should choose a husband based on his deen and his character, so it would be important to be sure that you are satisfied with this man's qualities in both respects.

    Midnightmoon
    IslamicAnswers.com editor

  5. AsSalaam Alaikum,

    I think if someone has a problem in their own country which obligates them to travel from their country to another for safety reasons, then why not do it legally, by showing authentic documents?

    Muslims will prefer to travel to a Muslim country rather than a non-muslim country, and will go to a non-muslim country with fear, and only if it's really necessary, keeping in mind that Allah sees everything they do.

    You have to consider the combined actions of people. To move to a non-muslim country for something like money or fun, and then also lie about yourself to achieve it, does not show the character of a good Muslim.

    Finally, lying to a Muslim/non-Muslim is still a lie in Islam. It will be wrong for anyone to say lying to enter a country is halal. If those Muslms were able to lie and enter your country, then what makes you think they cannot even lie to you too in many issues?

    Hope this helps, and Allah knows best.

  6. greetings, I would like to know what kind of marriage contract I've got. it looks like a passport with pages that has fill in blanks. it is written in Arabic that why I cant read it. and it was already taken away from me when I appear in court complaining about my husband divorcing me by lying in the court.

    my husband went to Islamic court and file a divorce saying that I left the country and I am not coming back. that the truth is I am just in another place working. and when I appear in the court, and the court ask me what I want. I told them i want justice. and the family and friends of my husband ask me to settle the case amicably they gave me amount of money to move on with my life. so i did and sign something in the court to withdraw my complaint. is there anyone who know what its all about? he said it was divorce papers

Leave a Response