Q 11: Some Muslim youth study hard but they forget what they study. They are not lazy; rather, they exert every effort to revise their lessons before the exams but it is as if they had done nothing. Some other students do very little revision but they receive one hundred percent better than those who revise and work very hard but finally do not comprehend anything. Moreover, while doing the exam, they do not recall what they have studied but their friends can tell them about the correct answers and without such help they will definitely fail. Is this help that two friends can exchange regarding answering exam questions considered a form of cheating? The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Whoever deceives us is not of us 'is not my follower'. Please clarify this point for us. May Allah reward you with the best.

A: What you have mentioned in the question is considered cheating and this is Haram (prohibited) based on the Hadith which is mentioned in the question. This form of cheating is also Haram for it is a danger to education as it decreases its level and spreads anarchy in its process. Moreover, cheating affects the society in a negative way when the students who have done it start to work and are in charge of undertaking the responsibility of achieving the interests of the Ummah (nation). Besides this and other things, this form of cheating is included in the generality of the Hadith mentioned above: Whoever deceives us is not of us 'is not my follower'. Wise Muslims should consider the public interest and give it priority over that which is private and partial. In other words, even though cheating seems to lead to a partial interest; it is in fact a harm that afflicts whoever passes the exam by means of cheating, and others who will be in charge of running the affairs of the Ummah. (Part No. 12; Page No. 202) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.