RIYADH, 2 April — Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, has criticized the tradition of the April Fool’s Day, saying that Islam permits lying only in exceptional cases. He warned youth in the Arab world against the practice in a ruling, published in Al-Riyadh newspaper yesterday. “What Muslims have been cursed with in the later eras is what is raised every April of each year, making it a time for lies,” said Al-Sheikh. He said this was “but an imitation of the unbelievers, for it is with them that it started and regrettably the Muslim sons have picked it up when it is sinful”. He added that the only times Muslims were permitted to lie is during wars, when lies might bring about reconciliation between people and when they are aimed at protecting the honor of a wife or husband. (AN)