Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear jurists,

 

I`m working as a senior software developer, qualifications are as under:

 

a) Pursuing MCA (computer Applications)

b) Bsc (English, Zoology, Botany, Chemistry)

c) 1year dip. in computers(Govt. Regd)

d) 1yr dip. in computers(Aptech Limited)

 

Now doing BSc in a war torn place due to the environment at that time, Government itself was allowing cheating in exams in full as everything was out of control. So obviously I also passed first 2-years like that(3rd year I studied normally) otherwise I would have studied, because thinking that I can pass through cheating and will get good marks but if I study and then take exams, maybe I will not get that much marks as he will get. Now as you see my job doesn`t depend on BSc. subject at all and my I.T. qualifications are earned by hard work and dedication .Is my earning halal?

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Cheated in Exam: Is my Earning Halal?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

If you have indeed cheated in all your exams and are not qualified for the job you are doing, then definitely you are doing injustice to the other brothers who have obtained their qualifications by merit. In this situation there is a great chance of your earnings being haraam.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 29:

29      O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will.

 

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.) said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “O people! Allah is Pure and, therefore, accepts only that which is pure.”  Then he (peace be upon him) made a mention of the person who travels for a long period of time, his hair are disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky and thus makes the supplication: ‘O my Lord!.... O my Lord!.....’. But his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful, how can then his supplication be accepted?''’

Related by Muslim.

 

But, if as you say there was rampant cheating in the exams for 2 years and in the 3rd. year you passed the exam with good marks without any cheating, then your earnings from your job can be considered not haraam as you are actually competent and qualified to hold the job you are in.

 

However, we must stress here that Islam does not give permission to the believers to do any act which is illegal, especially cheating. You are required to sincerely make taubah and beg Allah's swt forgiveness for your lack of judgement in cheating for 2 years. InshaAllah you will find our Majestic Lord very forgiving and merciful.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:Allah likes such good people very much, who, if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin, remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings.  For who, but Allah, can forgive sins?   (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did.   These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah, and with Gardens beneath which canals flow, and they will reside therein forever!  How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

  

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

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