432. The reason for Prophet Ibrahim to lie. 

In verse (21:63) of the Quran, it is being said Prophet Ibrahim disfigured all the small idols and left alone the biggest idol in a place of worship at his home town. When members of his community questioned him he said the biggest idol there was responsible and if need be they investigate the idols that lay in pieces.

The answer by Prophet Ibrahim was not the truth, but he said that to prove the fact that idols did not possess any power in them to make things happen in the world. This kind of sensible handling of situations at time of spreading God’s word is permitted.

Prophet Ibrahim’s words would not constitute a lie in this situation because his words that the bigger idol disfigured the smaller one was not said in fear of saving himself from his community members, but to let his community people ponder over their concept of God.

The people of his community who believed the idols as God, did not believe the words of Prophet Ibrahim, when he said the bigger idol disfigured the smaller ones.

Here the person who said knows the connotation of what he said and the ones who were told also know the connotations with which they are listening   The one who hears the answer also knows it is a lie in a different context, and needs to be considered as truth in the guise of a lie.

To know more about this please refer to points 162, 236, 336, of this explanation compilation.

Please refer to explanation points 433, and 473 of this compilation to know whether Prophet Ibrahim was justified in breaking the idols.