Serving food and soft drink to examiners

Serving Food And Soft Drink To Examiners

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

  What have respected Islamic scholars and Muftis ruled on the following issue? Some people serve foods and drinks to external examiners and give gifts to them so that the examiners will let their students cheat in exams. How is it to do that?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

  To give something to someone for gaining any personal benefit by an unfair means or for violating the right of others is a bribe. This ruling is based on the laws of Shari’ah. According to it, serving food to external examiners or giving gifts to them with this evil intention is actually aimed at gaining any personal benefit by an unfair means or violating the right of those students who do not cheat. Therefore, this is bribery and impermissible. Moreover, cheating or letting others cheat in examinations is itself impermissible and Haraam action. In the first place, it’s a crime by law. And, if the cheater is caught, it will become a cause of disgrace and humiliation for him. According to Shari’ah, it is Wajib to abide by the country law that is not contrary to Shari’ah and that involves the risk of disgrace in case of violation. Second, cheaters deceive invigilators, papers checkers and employers who recruit employees on the basis of degrees. In blessed Ahadees, it has been forbidden to deceive others. Third, cheating is the violation of the right of those students taking examinations without cheating. This violation is also impermissible. In short, cheating or letting others cheat is impermissible for many reasons. Furthermore, even without bribes, this impermissible action will remain impermissible and Haraam. Doing it or having it done with bribes will make it an even worse crime. Therefore, serving food or giving a gift with this evil intention is severely impermissible and Haraam. Those who eat and feed this food as well as those who give and take these gifts commit the sin of bribery. Besides, as a result of co-operating in the sin of cheating, they become severe sinners and deserving of the punishment of fire. Therefore, it is Fard to refrain from it.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ  عَزَّوَجَلَّ  وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by:Abu Muhammad, Muhammad Sarfaraz Akhtar Attari

Verified by:Mufti Fuzail Raza Attari