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Fatwa CenterCheating in exams is absolutely prohibited in Islam
Question
Salaam Alaikum, Shaikh I have very important matter that is faced nearly by all of us (who attend exams and test) nowadays, After entering examination hall one can see that almost everyone (Muslims in particular) is inclined to cheat and ask others, and furthermore, they give it (cheating) different names to convince other students to cheat. They might say 1. "please help so that I will also help you"? 2. "help me to gain passing marks only, and that is not sin and I will not greed then"? 3. "help me so that ALLAH (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) may help you on the day of judgement"? So these are some statements that students may give, however I have one more question what if the teacher is helping all the students (or some of them) to cheat and pass the exam, and then he says "please make dua for us" his intention is to get Dua from the students. Is this allowed? Jazaak ALLAHU Khair.
Answer
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.
We have already clarified in Fataawa 115236, 86185 and 81709 that cheating in exams is forbidden as well as helping others to do so. If this is done by a teacher, then this is even more abominable and more sinful. This is because the teacher is entrusted with watching the students during exams, so his doing this is a betrayal of trust, and this is a characteristic of the hypocrites.
In addition, the teacher should set a good example to the students, so how come he does such evil matters with them and in front of them?
Nonetheless, the teacher asking them to supplicate for him is in principle permissible, unless this is done out of mockery.
Besides, a student saying to his classmate “Help me, Allaah will help you on the Day of judgment,” while meaning cheating by this expression, and while knowing that it is cheating, is evidence of ignorance, heedlessness and carelessness regarding committing sins; otherwise, the recompense (for a deed) is of the same kind as the deed itself, so, whoever does an act of disobedience, such as cheating and so forth, is obliged to repent to Allaah.
Allaah Knows best.
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