Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
In Islam, dishonesty in financial aid applications is considered haram because it involves deceit. While your future income through lawful work remains valid, the blessings may be affected unless you repent. The solution includes correcting the application if possible, giving excess amounts to charity, and seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
The Islamic Ruling on Dishonesty in Student Aid
You have submitted a fake application for your studies, which is like building a house on shaky ground that is ready to collapse. When you start your studies on the wrong footing, you cannot expect Allah’s blessings.
Now that you’ve done it, ask yourself: can you resubmit the application with the right information?
Should You Resubmit the Aid Application with Correct Information?
If possible, you should do so, even if it means getting less money. It’s better to get a smaller amount earned lawfully than a large amount earned unlawfully. The Prophet taught us that unlawfully earned income fuels the fire that consumes us. If you can, try to resubmit the application. If not, cleanse your income by donating the excess money to charity to purify it. I advise you to pray to Allah, asking Him to provide a lawful source of income.
A Supplication for Lawful Sustenance
Here’s a supplication you can use:
“Allahumma aghnini bihalalika an haramika wabi fadlika `amman siwaka”
O Allah, make me sufficient with what You have made lawful for me, so I do not need to resort to what’s unlawful, and make me content with Your favor, so I’m not forced to turn to the favor of mortals.
Read more Islamic rulings on student finance here:
- Will I Be Forgiven for Taking Out a Student Loan?
- Is Earning Money from Answering Students’ Questions Halal?
- Are Student and Credit Loans Subject to Zakah?
- Can You Go to Hajj with Student Loan?
- Is Taking Student Loan Haram?
- Are Student Loans Halal? (Video)
- Can We Give Zakah to Poor Students?
Almighty Allah knows best.