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A Sin That Has Unfortunately Become A Norm
Cheating is the act of acting dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage.
Al-Mannaawi describes cheating as that which mixes bad with good.
Cheating in tests takes the form of anything that deviates from the normal test ethics. It may be asking a mate for answers, going into the hall with a cheat sheet or seeing the questions before writing the tests.
Unfortunately, cheating in tests has been normalized in today’s world. Many cheaters try to justify the act by saying they did it to get excellent marks.
Some of them are actually under pressure from their parents or guardians and some just don’t want to let them down. Some just get into the spirit of rivalry, whereas most cheaters are those who do not study but want to pass.
It doesn’t matter the circumstance, excuse or reason, cheating in tests is not permissible.
People who cheat in a test deceive others in many ways. They deceive the examiner into believing that they truly deserve the grades they got and they get the rewards for the high grades instead of those who really deserve them.
In cases where the grades are required for employment, those who cheat get the jobs instead of those who actually studied for the tests.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (رحمه الله) was asked about cheating in school tests if the teacher is aware of it.
He said: “Cheating is haraam in exams just as it is haraam 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)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (رحمه الله) said:
Cheating in exams is forbidden, it is in fact 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 to succeed.
(Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb, 24/2)
And Allaah knows best.
If one gets a job with a certificate obtained through cheating, he/she denies truly deserving and more qualified people of the job, which is the undue advantage we defined cheating as.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“He who cheats us is not one of us”
(Narrated by Muslim).
The Hadeeth above indicates that cheating of any kind is forbidden, and that it is a major sin. It indicates to the Muslims in general that whoever deceives people in any way has committed a great sin.
Cheating in tests therefore is a departure from the Messenger’s (ﷺ) Sunnah, as his (ﷺ) statement was a rebuke and a threat to those who persist in cheating.
Agreed, at times it is quite cumbersome to study, understand and assimilate the subject, but other times, it is just laziness.
A student should begin studying as the lessons are being taught, so that when the test comes, there wouldn’t be a mountain of subjects to cover.
As for those whose excuse was not to let down those who have faith in them, the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever seeks to please people by displeasing Allaah, Allaah will be displeased with him and cause people to be displeased with him.”
(Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 276)
Also, parents should learn to appreciate their children’s little efforts and encourage them to do better rather than mounting pressure on them to perform beyond rational expectations.
May Allaah (ﷻ) grant us the ability to do that which is right.
آمِيْن يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينْ
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🕋 ISLAM GENERATION DA’WAH GROUP
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