I was studying in one of the university faculties, but I was not able to complete my studies and I got the certificate through an intermediary, then I got a job with this certificate, and I got married by having this job, and now I have two children. 

My question is: 

What is the shar’i ruling on this – knowing that I do my job well and my boss has written a report proving my efficiency?.


Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

Getting your certificate through an intermediary when you did
not deserve it is a haraam action, which involves a number of things that
are forbidden. The one who intervened for you is a partner in the haraam
action. The haraam actions which resulted from you obtaining this
certificate through an intermediary are as follows: 

(a)

It was intercession for an evil cause. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“Whosoever intercedes for
a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an
evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allaah is Ever All-Able to
do (and also an All-Witness to) everything”

[al-Nisa’ 4:85] 

al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

The reward for intercession is not general in meaning, rather
it applies only to cases where the intercession is allowed, which is
intercession for a good cause. That applies only to things which are allowed
in sharee’ah, not to things that are not allowed, as indicated in this
verse. Al-Tabari narrated with a saheeh isnaad that Mujaahid said: this
applies to intercession of people for one another. To conclude, whoever
intercedes for another in a good cause will have a share of the reward, and
whoever intercedes for another in a false (bad) cause will have a share of
the burden of sin. End quote. 

Fath al-Baari, 10/451, 451 

(b)

It was deceit, because you submitted papers that were not
valid. 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “Whoever deceives us is not one of us.” Narrated by Muslim,
102 

(c)

You pretended to be something that you are not – by claiming
that you had obtained a certificate when that was not the case. 

It was narrated from Asma’ (may Allaah be pleased with her)
that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The
one who claims to have what he does not have is like one who wears two false
garments (i.e., that do not belong to him).” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4921; Muslim, 2130 

(d)

False speech and false testimony 

It was narrated that Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you of the worst of major sins?” We said:
Yes, O Messenger of Allaah. He said: “Associating anything with Allaah,
disobeying one’s parents,” and he was lying down but he sat up and said:
“And false speech and false testimony, and false speech and false
testimony,” and he kept saying it until we wished that he would stop (out of
compassion towards him).

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5631; Muslim, 87. 

(e)

Lying to the bosses at work and to other people. 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he makes
a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with something he betrays
(that trust).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 33; Muslim, 59. 

(f)

Taking away the rights of others who had obtained genuine
certificates without the intercession of anyone else. This is unjust towards
those who were deprived of their right to a job. 

It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
narrated that Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted, said: “O My slaves, I
have forbidden injustice to Myself and I have made it haraam among you, so
do not be unjust towards one another.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2577. 

So you can see the seriousness of what you have done, since
it involves so many sins and wrong actions. What you – and the one who
interceded for you – have to do is to repent sincerely, by regretting what
you have done, resolving not to do it again, praying for forgiveness and
doing acts of worship. 

Secondly: 

With regard to your work and the money you have earned by
having this certificate, we hope that your repentance will be sufficient to
solve this problem, so long as you do your work well. 

See the answer to question no.
69820

And Allaah knows best.