Cheating in exams

Q 2: Concerning the Hadith that says, “Anyone who cheats us is not one of us.” Is it permissible to cheat behind the teacher’s back or the school on exam days, whether by cheating from another student or from hidden papers? If a classmate asks me for the answer to a question, should I tell them the answer or not? Please advise me on this.

A: The Hadith, “Anyone who cheats us is not one of us” is Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish). Its meaning is general; therefore, it includes cheating in buying and selling, in giving advice, in promises and covenants, in trusts, in exams held in schools and institutes, and so on. This is so whether it involves copying from books, taking answers from other students, or telling them the answers, whether verbally or written on a paper and passed to them.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.