“Ibraaheem never lied except on three occasions…” (Bukhaary 5084)?
Both are statements which are different from reality. The linguistic definition of a lie is that which contradicts reality. The difference between the two is that there is no benefit in lying, since doing so is an explicit and deliberate contradiction to reality, and there is no way to even potentially interpret it as true. Double-meanings, however, have one meaning that corresponds to reality, even if apparently contradicting it. Ibraaheem used three statements of double-meaning. He said, ‘This is my sister!,’ referring to Saarah, who in reality was his wife. He did so in order to escape from the oppression of an evil rapist in his presence. She was his sister in faith, however, and this does correspond to reality. But because she was actually his wife, this has been referred to as a lie, although in reality it is a double-meaning. The type of lie which is forbidden in scripture and has been warned against is that which cannot possibly be understood in any manner as true. Double-meanings, however, have one true interpretation, although it may appear to contradict reality. When Ibraaheem said, ‘I am sick!,’ and ‘The biggest idol did it!,’ it was for the Sake of Allaah, in order to save his life. By saying, ‘I am sick!,’ he was avoiding attending a celebration where idol worship was ongoing, and in speaking using double-meaning terms, he avoided telling an explicit lie, and Allaah knows best.