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Fatwa CenterAvoiding cheating in the first place is better than cheating and then repenting
Question
As'Salmmu'Alyakum I asked about cheating and I was redirected to some fatwas, but they didn't answer my question. I know that cheating is a sin, but if the cheater repents they may be free on any punishment. If I refuse to cheat on tests will I get a lot of good deeds if some or all other students in the class are cheating? Or will I get nothing in return for being honest, while the cheaters get good grades in the duny'a, and later repent and escape punishment in the ak'hira.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
You have known that cheating is prohibited and that it is a disobedience to Allaah which entails sin and that the cheater deserves punishment if he does not repent to Allaah The Almighty. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever cheats us is not one of us." [Muslim]
The Hadeeth means that whoever cheats is not from the believers who have perfect faith, but he is a sinful Muslim.
Whoever renounces cheating or other sins, fearing Allaah The Almighty and observing His limits, surely he will be rewarded for that. Whoever cheats while intending to repent from it, he may not be guided to repentance; however, if he repents sincerely, Allaah The Almighty will accept his repentance and forgive his sin. But, he cannot be equal to the one who renounces sin from the beginning, acting upon the orders of his Lord and consciously fearing Him.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81709, 187023 and 115236.
Allaah Knows best.
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