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Religious Questions

Is the white lie better than the provocative truth?

SHAFAQNA – Is the white lie better than the provocative/provoking truth, or not? The famous Persian Poet Sa’adi (RA) said: White lie is better than the provoking truth; and the story he mentioned with this sentence shows that Sa’adi (RA) had a good understanding of the subject. He said: They brought a man to the king, and the king ordered for him to be beheaded. When that man realized that there is no hope for him to live, he started insulting, but the king could not hear him, and the king asked: What is he saying? The minister said: He is saying: (Those who) restrain anger, and pardon men (Ayah 134, Surah Al-e-Imran). Another person who was there and wanted to find a fault with the minister to get rid of him so that he could replace the minister said: It is not right to lie in the presence of the king. He is insulting the king, and you are saying he is reciting the Quran? The king replied: His lie is better than your truth. Of course this is a story from Sa’adi (RA) to talk about a reality; white lie is better than the provocative truth. Meaning; with a white lie he saved a life, and with a truth, you put a life in danger [1].

[1] Falsafeye Akhlaq, Martyr Mortaza Motahhari, PP 82-83.

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