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, using extra exam time gained dishonestly is not permissible because it involves deceit. A Muslim must act with honesty and integrity in all matters. Sincere repentance, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and a firm resolve not to repeat the act are required for forgiveness.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
What you did was wrong, as Islam teaches us to be ethical and be truthful, and honest in our actions and behavior.
Islam is not simply about rituals and dogmas but about living a life of moral integrity. Allah repeatedly reminds us in the Qur’an that we must be faithful to our covenants, pledges, and commitments. Honesty, integrity, and truthfulness are essential traits of a Muslim’s character.
You have sinned by acting dishonestly. In the Islamic faith, the path to forgiveness begins with sincere repentance. Turn to Allah, ask for His forgiveness, and make a firm commitment not to repeat such mistakes. Pledge to act with moral integrity, as this is the essence of our faith.
Once you have repented sincerely, you can hope for Allah’s forgiveness.
You may use the extra time to prepare for the test, but do so after due preparation. Islam teaches us to excel in our work. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah enjoins excellence in all things.” (Reported by Muslim). He also said, “Allah loves that you do every work you perform diligently and excellently.” (Reported by Abu Ya`la)
👉 Explore more Islamic rulings on honesty, ethics, and repentance:
- What Is Repentance in Islam?
- I Cheated in Exam: Is My Income Haram?
- Is Cheating on a Test Haram?
- Is Earning Money from Answering Students’ Questions Halal?
Almighty Allah knows best.