Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:88-90

In the stars: Meaning, in the science of astrology, or in its books, or in its judgments. It is narrated that a certain king was asked about his desires, and he replied: "A beloved I look upon, a needy person I look after, and a book I look into."

The people were astrologers, so he misled them by pretending to deduce from a sign in the science of astrology that he was about to fall ill.

{فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ}

Meaning: I am on the verge of sickness, specifically the plague. It was the most common illness among them, and they feared contagion. Thus, they dispersed from him and fled to their festival, leaving him alone in the house of the idols. He then did to the idols what he did.

If you ask: How was it permissible for him to lie? I say: Some have permitted it in the context of war stratagems, taqiyya (dissimulation), pleasing one's spouse, and reconciling between disputing or estranged parties.

However, the correct view is that lying is forbidden unless one uses tawriya (equivocation/double entendre). What Abraham (peace be upon him) said was a form of ma'rad (equivocal speech). He intended by it that anyone who has death hanging around their neck is "sick" (i.e., mortal).

From this comes the proverb: "Safety is a sufficient disease." And the words of Labid: I strove to call upon my Lord for safety, That I might be healthy, yet safety is a disease.

A man once died suddenly, and people gathered around him saying, "He died while he was healthy." A Bedouin remarked, "Is anyone healthy who has death around his neck?"

It is also said: He meant, "I am sick at heart because of your disbelief."

{فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰ آلِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ * مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنطِقُونَ * فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ}