Question:
Does lying about my qualifications make my income haram?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
Lying in order to obtain a job is a major sin and requires repentance. However, the income that is made from the job is permissible and unaffected by the lie.
[Sarakhsi, al-Mabsut]
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Verily truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to paradise. A man may continue to be truthful until he is recorded as a speaker of the truth. Verily lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to hell. A man may continue to tell lies until he is recorded as a liar.” [Bukhari, al-Sahih]
From the above Hadith, we understand that telling the truth will always lead to what is best, even if outwardly it does not seem so.
As the saying goes: “Honesty is the best policy.”
Please see: A Reader on Tawba (Repentance)
And Allah alone knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani