Question
Assalamu ‘alaykum. I used to do assignment/ report writing for students. I found out that it’s wrong to do their work for them as the students are using my work as their own to gain marks and such. My question is, now that I have understood and have stopped doing those, what should I do with the pay? Now is it haram for me to use that money?
Answer
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Yes, using that money would not be permissible as the act entailed helping others in deception. The best thing to do is to turn to Allah, ask for forgiveness, and repent. You’ll find Allah to be very forgiving and merciful.
Part of the repentance would be to remove that money from your possession. If you still have it, give it to someone who is poor, or to a cause that would be of general benefit to people. If you have spent it you’d need to give the equivalent amount away. That would clear you of the sin and its consequences. (Usmani, Fiqh al Buyu’)
May Allah facilitate a halal income for you, always.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani