Sharing Past Exam Papers

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I’m a university student. Every year, students take exams, and they have to return the question paper after the exam. During the Corona year, exams were held online, and our seniors had a PDF of the paper. My senior contacted me and offered to share the paper with me, even though I hadn’t approached her. In my situation, I don’t know whether the same paper will be used for the upcoming exam. There’s a chance that a similar paper with a few matching questions could come. I plan to prepare thoroughly for the entire syllabus, but I will study the past paper questions in depth. Is this action considered haram or halal?

Answer

I pray you are well.

No, you shouldn’t take the paper off her. She was entrusted with the paper, and sharing it would be a breach of trust. You would be helping her commit the sin. Study properly, ask Allah for help, and don’t use such exam papers.

Advising your friend will also be a good thing. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) warned Believers about such matters: “Whoever deceives us is not from us.” (Muslim) Meaning deception, treachery, etc., are not from the ways of the Muslims.

May Allah allow us to uphold the lofty Prophetic qualities.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
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.