Assalaamualaykum, I go out with my friend to swim in a swimming pool which is located in a compound of villas. My friend does not stay there but his house is close to the compoud. Two of his friends reside in the compound. Sometimes, when we enter the compound, where there is a swimming pool, the watchman ask us the name of the person whom we are going to meet in on of the villas. Sometimes we mention the name of his friend and swim even if he is there or if he is absent we go and swim without meeting the person whose name was mentioned to the watchman. If my friend’s friend would be present then he would have allowed us to swim. I am not sure whether the guests of the villa residents can use this pool or only the residents can use it. Is this forbidden?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

If residents of the compound only are allowed to swim in the pool, you are not allowed to swim there even in the presence of your friend, unless there is a direct or customary permission for guests of the residents of the compound to swim there.

In fact, telling the watchman that you came to meet your friend, but in fact you came to swim, is a lie. You, undoubtedly, know the danger of telling lies. It was narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas`ood that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Telling lies leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to Hell, and a man may keep on telling lies until he is written, before Allaah, a liar." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Therefore, you have to repent to Allaah and not do that again.