Forged a Sick Leave Certificate

31-12-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

If a person has lied that he is sick and forged a document to support the lie now wants to repent, what can he do? As he cannot confess to this lie as it will bring very bad reprocusions towards him as it may involve police etc. He also feels guilty every day and is constantly thinking of it, how can he achieve peace. Would it be possible for him to pray to alllah and ask allah for his lie to be concealed forever?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If the forgery of that sick leave certificate does not result in consuming other people’s money unlawfully, then it is enough for the person to regret what he had done and seek the forgiveness of Allah for it, and be determined not to do that again in the future. He should also conceal his sin as Allah did not expose him, so he should not inform anyone about it.

However, if what he had done entailed consuming other people’s money unlawfully, then in addition to what we have already mentioned, he must return the money to those whom he had taken it from, even if it is done indirectly.

If it is not possible for him to do so, then he should give it to the poor and needy, or to the public interest of the Muslims if it is government money.

If he had taken the money from a specific person, then he must return it to him, even indirectly, and he should not spend it in charity on behalf of the person from he had taken it unless he loses all hope and is absolutely unable to return it to that person.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 388393.

Allah knows best.