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Fatwa CenterHaving whispers about repentance from cheating in exams
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. My question is regarding cheating in an exam. I read your fatwas on this matter, but I just wanted to get a personal response. I hope that is okay as I suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Things bother me a lot. The situation in my educational institute is very bad; almost every student cheats, and teachers help some as well. I tried very hard not to cheat, but because of the enviroment, I indulged in this shameful act as well, and now I feel very guilty of it. I can ask for a resit in the exam, but they might not allow it because I passed the exam; and I might have passed even without cheating. The faculty does not consider cheating a big deal, so asking them again and again would not be very appealing to them. Should i just ask them once if I could resit? And then if they do not agree, I will make a true repentance and try not to do this again.
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.
Repent to Allaah of your sin, sincerely show remorse, and resolve never to commit the sin of cheating again in the future. Even if you do not resit the exam, your sincere repentance is enough (see fatwa 86527), and cheating in the past does not affect its validity. You should simply disregard and repel such thoughts whenever they occur to you, seek refuge with Allaah, and pay absolutely no attention to them, lest they take control over you and ruin your life and religion.
Allaah knows best.
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