Riyad as-Salihin, 249

Umm Kulthum bint 'Uqbah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'The person who (lies) in order to conciliate between people is not a liar, when he conveys good or says (something) good". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. The narration in Muslim added: She said, "I never heard him (she meant the Prophet (ﷺ)) giving permission of lying in anything except in three (things): war, conciliating between people and the conversation of man with his wife and the conversation of a woman with her husband".

وعن أم كلثوم بنت عقبة بن أبي معيط رضي الله عنها قالت سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏"‏ليس الكذاب الذي يصلح بين الناس فينمي خيرًا، أو يقول خيرًا‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ و في رواية مسلم زيادة، قالت: "و لم اسمعه يرخصه في شيء مما يقوله الناس الا في ثلاث، تعني: الحرب، و الاصلاح بين الناس، و حديث الرجل امراته، و حديث المرأة زوجها".

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Introduction, Hadith 249

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) The one who seeks to reconcile between Muslims is permitted to resort to lying, if needed, in order to eliminate disagreements, reconnect ties of kinship, and settle grievances. 2) Lying in war is permissible because the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) allowed it, as a form of facilitation for the Muslims who may need to do it, and to cause trouble the disbeliever and vex them thereby. 3) Lying between the spouses is permissible if it is intended for good purposes, provided that it does not involve evil against others, backbiting, or gossip. Benefit: The reconciler should not widen the scope of lying that is permitted for the sake or reconciliation, lest it would drag him into impermissible lying. Concessions should not be used beyond their proper occasions.

Related hadiths1

Sunan Abi Dawud4921sahih