Is telling a white lie ever permissible?

“One should avoid speaking lies. Speaking lies is not permissible in Islam. However, in the case where one does not want to make people worried, e.g.”

“Lying is an evil and bad habit which leads one to sin and ultimately to the fire (Jahannum). This is proven from the following Hadeeth; (2607) حدثنا زهير بن حرب، وعثمان بن أبي شيبة، وإسحاق بن إبراهيم – قال: إسحاق: أخبرنا، وقال الآخران: حدثنا – جرير، عن منصور، عن أبي وائل، عن عبد الله، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إن …”

“Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) has mentioned this Hadith to mean that a person who lies or evades the complete truth [i.e speaks contrary to reality] in order to reconcile between others is not looked down upon, rather such actions are commendable.”

“In such a case, one should avoid speaking an open lie, rather one should act on Towriyah. For example, Ibrahim was invited to a festival of Kufr and he said, “I am sick.” The people understood that he was suffering from a physical ailment, whilst Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam meant that he is sick of their Kufr and Shirk.”