Fatwa ID: 09500
Answered by Mufti Abdurrahman Mohammad
Question:
In my matric result I got 1077 marks out of 1100. After getting these numbers my uncle gave me 10000 Rupees as a gift on congratulating me on getting good marks. The problem is that as far as I believe out of these 1077 approximately 5 to 10 marks or required by cheating, so is this money Halal for me. What should I do? Majority of the numbers are acquired by Halal means but 5 to 10 numbers are as far as I believe acquired by cheating. Please guide me is this money halal for me? Moreover, I think that even if I had got 5 to 10 marks less, they still have gifted me this money. But still have this confusion if this money halal?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Cheating is Haram and sinful, and you should sincerely repent for it. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
He who deceives is not of me (is not my follower). (Sahih Muslim 102) [1]
Lying, cheating, forgery, fraud, and deception are all strictly Haram and you should do Tawbah from such actions. If it is possible to rectify this, then one must do so.
However, the money gifted by your uncle is permissible, since the gift was not conditional on those 5–10 marks and would have been given even if you had scored slightly less. [2] Your uncle gave the money as a congratulatory gift, not as payment for exact marks. Since there is no direct connection between the money and the exact number of marks obtained, the money is considered a gift, and gifts are given freely and not in exchange for anything. Therefore, it would be permissible for you to keep the money.
You should sincerely make Tawbah to Allah (ﷻ), feel genuine remorse for cheating, and do abundant Istighfar. Make firm resolve to never return to such behavior in the future and try to be honest in all your affairs. If your heart feels uneasy, you may donate a portion of the money in charity with the intention of forgiveness and seeking Allah (ﷻ)’s pleasure.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Abdurrahman Mohammad
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، – قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الْعَلاَءُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، . أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ عَلَى صُبْرَةِ طَعَامٍ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهَا فَنَالَتْ أَصَابِعُهُ بَلَلاً فَقَالَ ” مَا هَذَا يَا صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ ” . قَالَ أَصَابَتْهُ السَّمَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ ” أَفَلاَ جَعَلْتَهُ فَوْقَ الطَّعَامِ كَىْ يَرَاهُ النَّاسُ مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي ” .
(Sahih Muslim 102, sunnah.com)
[2]
الأمور بمقاصدها
(Al-Ashbāh wa al-Naẓāʾir, pg. 23, Dār Al-Kutub Al’Ilmiyyah)