Helping Someone Cheat in Exams Fatwa No: 86185
- Fatwa Date:10-9-2003
During her exam my daughter was asked by her friends to help them (Cheat) the request was from everybody and even from the supervisor she couldn't refuse. Now she is asking if what she did is Haram or not?
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 is His slave and Messenger.
What she has committed is unlawful since it is a cooperation in what is forbidden. Allah Says (what means): {… but do not help one another in sin and transgression.} [Quran 5:2]
No doubt that cheating is a hateful action. So, a believer should not practice it. The Prophet said: “Whoever cheats others is not one of us.” [Muslim]
Moreover, At-Tabaraani reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us. Cheating and cunning are in Hellfire.”
The meaning of the Hadeeth is general, so it covers all kinds of cheating regardless of the places or fields. Therefore, cheating in exams is forbidden regardless of whether or not the subject is a religious one. Moreover, any student who passes the exams gets his certificate in his profession, and later on, based on his degree, he would undertake the responsibilities in his workplace. Now, the question is how it would be permissible for a cheater to occupy a job and get salary while his degrees are obtained by cheating? No, doubt it is pure injustice and a cheating of the whole Muslim Ummah. Furthermore, cheating in exams is more harmful than cheating in other matters.
For more benefit on the ruling on certificates and earnings if one cheated in exams, please refer to Fataawa 397198, 344719, 358828, 191489, 355567, and 362809.
Allah knows best.