Is Cheating in Exam Haram?

Question: 175744

I am asking you a question about cheating.I have know friends who are muslims and are cheating and I also have been cheating and helping others into cheating too.I know that it is haram but the only reason why I cheat sometimes is because my family excepts me to do very well in school and sometimes when I dont cheat I sometimes get bad scores,but not all the time I do cheat and also this is the same reason that's goes with my friends since they are scared of their family since they might be strict on him for not having bad grades, and we would like to know on how to stop our selfs from cheating and how to deal with our family if our grades are horrible since our family will make a big deal that we got a horrible grade.We sometimes try to stop ourselfs from cheating but we can't help it,please do help us in this situcation.And one more question.My friend had to finish an exam at home but the teacher didn't told her to use her worksheets to help her on the exam since her teacher made her only to swear that she will never tell anyone that she will be finishing the exam at home.My friend used some of the worksheets but is going crazy and worrying a lot about it since she thinks she cheated even though the teacher didn't made her to swear that she won't cheat on the exam, and made a decent grade on it though not an EXCELENT grade on it though.What should we do?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Cheating is Haram, whether it is in buying and selling, or in exams, or any other matter, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “Whoever cheats is not one of us.”Narrated by Muslim, 102 from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Cheating in exams is forbidden; in fact it is a major sin, especially since this cheating will lead to a number of things in the future, it will affect the person’s salary and position, and other things that are needed in order to succeed."(Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb, 24/2 )

For more information on the negative consequences of cheating, please see the answer to question no. 95776

Similarly, it is not permissible to cheat with the aim of pleasing one’s father or mother, because it is not permissible to seek to please them by disobeying Allah in any circumstances. Ibn Hibbaan narrated in his Saheeh (276) that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever seeks to please people by displeasing Allah, Allah will be displeased with him and cause people to be displeased with him.”

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Targheeb, 2/271.

Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Shu‘ab al-Eemaan (209) that Ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: You cannot attain the pleasure of Allah if you try to please people by displeasing Allah.

Undoubtedly parents do not want their children to grow up cheating or to get good grades by means of cheating; rather they want their children to succeed by their own efforts.

The one who wants to succeed and get high grades has to be serious, work hard and revise, not cheat, because cheating is something that people dislike and the cheat is despised by all people. Cheating is contrary to truthfulness and honesty, and it is akin to lying and treachery, so the sensible person avoids it.

Once the Muslim understands that this is the nature of cheating in exams, and follows the example of those who study hard, he will recognise this blameworthy characteristic and avoid it.

With regard to the teacher allowing the female student to complete the answers to the exam at home, this is a betrayal of the trust that has been given to her. Moreover it is unfair to others who were not given this opportunity – even if we assume that the system allows it, which is something we cannot be certain about – and was a cause of cheating becoming easy for this student, by means of which she got high grades that she did not deserve.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about cheating in school tests, if the teacher is aware of it?

He said:

Cheating is Haram in exams just as it is Haram in transactions. No one has the right to cheat in tests in any subject, and if the teacher approves of that then he is a partner in the sin and betrayal."(Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 6/397)

See also the answer to question no. 136774

And Allah knows best.

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