Good Character

Is it permissible to lie regarding one's salary

Q: I know that telling a lie is a sin in Islam. Islam has laid a great stress on speaking the truth. But some times people do not give us our rights unless we tell a lie. Example: A person is an employee of a company. His salary is 10000 and company tells him that he should work hard and after completion of some project company will raise his salary to 15000. But after completion of annual year/project company terminates him from job. Now person's work worth according to the market rate is 15000. But when this persons goes to next company for new job , if he tells them that his job was terminated and salary was 10000 (not 15000 which was his right now), new company will never take him on the reasonable salary (i.e. 15000). I want to ask that in this situation where we are unable to get our rights can we speak lie e.g. regarding salary to just get our right, not with the intention of harming any one?

Actions of the night

Q: Please advise regarding the actions of the night:

1. Is it necessary to close all doors and windows of the house from maghrib till after sunrise?

2. If so, must it be done in even hot weather or with a window in the toilet room as well?

3. Must a utensil, like a plastic jug, kept in a toilet-bathroom that is used expressly for the purpose of holding water for istinja also be covered at night?

4. If so, can the water in such a utensil that was not covered at night be used for istinja?

5. Should even adults avoid leaving the home or standing around outside unnecessarily from maghrib till after sunrise?

6. Must one avoid cutting trees and plants, gardening, picking flowers etc. from maghrib till after sunrise?

7. Would (Question 6) apply to indoor plants as well? 8. Also, is it alright to have plants growing indoors? Like a vase of flowers, a tree, or a pot plant?