Q: Abu Hurairah and Jabir (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “War is deception.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Is it permissible to deliberately spread a false rumour accusing the wife of a prominent political enemy of the Muslims of adultery, with the intention of discrediting him, causing turmoil and distress in his personal life, and thereby hoping to gain a strategic advantage for the Muslims?
A: Islam is a religion that promotes and advocates justice at all times and prohibits all forms of injustice. Even when dealing with the enemy, Islam does not permit a Muslim to commit acts of injustice. Therefore, it is not permissible for one to spread a false rumour that the wife of a prominent political enemy of the Muslims has committed adultery.
How can one accuse the wife of a non-Muslim political leader of zina, just because of one's hatred for her husband?! Through doing this, one will be guilty of accusing an innocent person of wrong and bringing disgrace and disrepute to her. This goes against the limits of justice which Islam commands us to uphold at all times.
In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta'ala says "O you who believe, stand up firmly for Allah as just witnesses and let not the enmity of a people cause you to deviate from justice. Remain just, that is closer to taqwa (piety) and fear Allah, Allah is All-Aware of what you do" (Surah Maaidah v. 8)
As for the hadith which you have quoted, then the meaning of the hadith is not that you should lie or deceive the kuffaar. Instead, the meaning of the hadith is that you can say something to them which can mean two different things, you intend one meaning but the kuffaar take the opposite meaning and in this way you gain the upperhand over them.
One example to understand the hadith is that once during a certain battle, when the duels commenced between the Muslims and the kuffaar, then Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) came forward from the side of the Muslims and a kaafir soldier came forward from the side of the kuffaar.
Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) said to the kaafir soldier that in a duel combat, only one person is supposed to come forward. The kaafir soldier thought that perhaps another soldier also came out with him, so he turned behind to see who had come out with him.
At that moment, Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) found the right opportunity to strike and he immediately struck him with his sword thereby killing him on the spot.
In this example, we see that Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) did not speak a lie to the person, but he merely said something to him through which he was misled in thinking that someone was behind him. In this way, Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) was able to gain the upper hand over him and eventually defeat him.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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