What to say if someone asks you whether or not you do such and such haram thing?

[Evsu]

We know that we shouldn't tell other people about the sins we do secretly, and there is a sahih hadith in this connection. But what if someone instead ASKS you whether or not you do that sin? Should we then lie and say no?

Suppose that someone asks me, "Do you pray?" and in those days I happen to be not praying any single prayer. Should I say yes?

Or if someone asks me whether or not I do that secret practive everyone does or watch illicit stuff, should I say "No, I don't," even though I do it everyday all the time?

To answer someone's questions such as the above ones become more difficult for someone who is known to be more religious than those around (for example, has a beard, wears hijab, etc.), and even more difficult if you want to actually stop the other person from doing a haram thing (while you yourself do it).

Please let me know what you think, and whether there is an Islamic injuction from the Qur'an or sunna on this one or not, so that I should know what to say next time when someone asks a question like this to me.

[alfatiha]

Things that I would say:

- I don't want to talk about it
- I was different
- Are you going to judge me?
- Sins are forgiven between two ṣalah, two Ramaḍhan, ...

I'm not sure, but is answering questions wajib? if not, try not to answer.

[Evsu]

I'm not sure, but is answering questions wajib? if not, try not to answer.

If you don't answer or remain silent or try to change the subject, then the other person will definitely think you do it. In fact, he will start teasing you and tell others.

[kayra]

If you don't answer or remain silent or try to change the subject, then the other person will definitely think you do it. In fact, he will start teasing you and tell others.

Smile and ask if he/ she is your katip angel, recording your good and bad deeds.

Or how about "Insh'Allah" as a reply? I say "Insh'Allah" if asked if I do my Salat (which I do, Insh'Allah), and I said "Insh'Allah" at Ramadan if asked whether such-and-such a person was performing their fast, whether they fasted or not.

I used to get asked a LOT of "haram" questions when I'd newly converted - did I do X, Y and Z before I became a Muslim? At first I used to answer honestly, until I was warned by other sisters not to. So I started replying things like "Allah has forgiven all my major and minor sins from my past, so who are you to ask me to list them?" Of course, this reply annoyed a lot of people, who wanted to hear stories of the kind of women they see on TV =)

Honestly, Evsu, if these people are so immature as to tease you and tell other people, then if I were you, I would avoid them as much as possible. Because whatever answer you give, they'll still do giybet.

[nomanpur]

This is merely my thought about it. In this case one should at that moment make immediate tawba mentally to Allah about that particular sin and then say to that questioner that - alhamdulillah Allah has kept me free from this sin. Its the virtue of Allah, I have no credit of myself.
And Allah knows the best.

[Evsu]

Why can't we just lie and say we don't do it? Or at least say I used to but now I don't? In Islam, it is permissible to lie sometimes, such as in a war, to one's wife, etc. Why can't we in this situation?

If someone is doing something bad and asks you whether you do the same, and if you say "Yes," (even if you say its haram) then he or she will think, "Oh, there are other people doing it as well, and I thought I'm the only one," and then he or she will not leave that sin easily.

[sudoku]

Also, you can flat out tell them that it is not right to discuss what sins one commits. For generic questions like "Do you pray, fast, etc etc" you can always give a cryptic answer of "Well, a Muslim is supposed to do those things, isn't he? Unless he has a valid excuse"..

But now I'm wondering, I think I have heard about a story where one of the sahaba was mocking himself about his days of jahiliyyat, where he mentioned he used to drink soo much alcohol and also buried his daughters alive.

Remember that Musa (AS) was also taunted by the Firawn that he had committed a sin (killed the coptic man). Musa (AS) replied something to the effect that he did it then, when he was of those who are astray. If someone demands of you, mention this.