Is It Sinful If I Intentionally Kept Some Papers from My Teacher?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

When I was at college, the teacher gave some card paper out for revision, so I took some time. At another point, she said it was only for that particular subject (not used for other issues); maybe I used some of this paper for different topics, and I still have some of it with me now. Is there anything wrong that I have done?

Answer

I pray you are well.

I understood from your question that you took some extra paper, and later she said it was only to be used for that subject. I don’t think you have anything to worry about anything.

When you took the paper, you did not know it was only for that subject; therefore, you did nothing wrong. Also, a few sheets of paper are not very expensive; even if the college knew about it, I doubt they would mind.

You can relax. If you want, donate to the institute, intending to repay anything you may owe. This way, your concern will be relieved, and you’ll see the reward of it on the Day of Judgement, for “Whoever does an ant’s weight’s worth of good will see it.” [Quran, 99:7]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.