Got high marks through cheating in the exam
Fatwa No: 115236

Question

Salamualaikum wr wb. May Allah reward you, please bear with me while I explain my situation and please give me an individual response as this issue is bothering me. I did high school in Australia. And based on my high school scores I can go to university. But I now consider somethings to be incorrect in my marks and that some cheating may have occured. This is really troubling me. Amongst the cheating an abnormalities: In one subject I used a calculator in one exam when I should not have. In two subject the teacher gave me the material to study before one particular test. I am very certain that should should not have. In one subject I think I copied one answer from another person during the exam. Now I am scared that it is Haram to use these results. Can you please give me a clear fatwaa if it is halal to use these results to get into my course or is Tawbah enough? Please note that I can apply to my course in other ways too, like for exmaple doing a degree and then applying to another university degree I want to do. I am scared that if i use these results it will be an injustice to other people applying for the same course as I may be taking there University places. Wa salamualaikum wr wb

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 is His slave and Messenger.

 

If the situation is as you mentioned, then you are obliged to repent to Allaah for what you did because cheating is forbidden whether or not it is in exams.

Since you obtained marks that you did not deserve, you are not permitted to use that certificate to enter university if this university requires specific marks or that your enrolling in it makes other students who are more entitled to enroll in it miss their chance. Therefore, you may apply for the exam again, and if you fear Allaah, Allaah may facilitate the matter for you and enable you to be successful in your exams to an extent that you could never imagine.

Finally, we advise you to work hard in your studies in order to be successful and improve yourself, and take the necessary means while relying on Allaah.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 91789.

Allaah Knows best.

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