To lie about one’s age when making an email account

assalamu’alaikum 

My 12 year old son wants to have an email address but for that he lied about his age on the online form they require to set up the email address.  Was this halal? What should I do if he does this without my permission but with his fathers permission?

Jazakallah

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

From the outset, it is important to understand that as children grow older they are bound to make mistakes. As a parent, it is one’s responsibility to make sure that they address these issues correctly with wisdom. Otherwise, these mistakes can soon turn into bad habits. It is also vital that both parents are on the same page while addressing such issues to ensure the proper upbringing of the child.

In the aforementioned scenario, since the child had made the email address with the father’s consent, we would recommend not reprimanding the child in any form as this can become a means of confusion for the child. Rather, we would recommend to slowly begin advising the child on the harms of lying and the importance of speaking the truth without directly addressing this specific issue. Insha Allah doing so will be beneficial for the child and will help him understand his mistake.

والله اعلم

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Omar Baig

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani