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Fatwa CenterHelping Muslim students against discrimination by raising their grades
Question
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Dear scholars, today I am going to ask whether a certain action is valid or not. I am from Ethiopia, a country in which Muslims are a minority. I am a university instructor teaching higher institutional students. The number of Muslim students is very low compared to the other students, especially the female students. This country being highly diversified, both the instructors and students are from different ethnicities, religions, races, etc. Most of them are from Christian sects. I know that there is a lot of Islamophobia among most of the teachers and students, and this leads to discrimination against Muslim students. For example, they cooperate in grade elevation by adding marks to their students. I, being Muslim, felt this ill action and tend to do the same, but I refrain from doing that for a long time, except last semester, when I helped some Muslim students, especially females. Actually, I also did so for some non-Muslim students who had low grades. This year, I am teaching the graduation class students, who will be graduating after almost a month. My question is: am I allowed to provide such help to Muslim students, or could I be sinful for not doing that while others are doing it given that this action has become common? What shall I do? The students themselves expect this favor. Please, try to let me know whether I am allowed to do so or not. I think that it is somewhat confusing, but Islam has a solution for every problem, so please help me. May Allah reward you. Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
We do not believe that it is permissible to give Muslim students grades which they do not deserve; rather, you should do your work with honesty and strive in helping those students with all the lawful means available, such as by helping them with the revision, summarizing, repetition of the explanation, and the like. You should also urge them to study and exert extra efforts to attain success and excellence. There is no doubt that this is more beneficial to them than giving them grades that they have not earned nor deserve. This is as far as the grades of the exams are concerned. However, if there are grades that the teacher gives as a personal assessment of the students' performance, then he may give those students the highest grades possible provided that it does not violate the code of professional conduct of the teaching profession.
As for the other teachers, they should be reported to the concerned authority to prevent them from giving the students high grades that they do not deserve; if you can report them, then do so.
You should know, dear brother, that your keenness on being honest in your work may be one of the best means to call to Islam and support Muslims. May Allah guide you to all that is good and help you fulfill the trust that you bear.
Allah knows best.
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