Under the current circumstances due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many universities conduct their exams electronically through the Internet to evaluate their students. A college student asked me to attend his exams instead of him. Is this permissible according to Islamic law?
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. May His Blessings and Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his purified family, companions, and those who follow their guidance.
Nations and societies are established and flourished by their competent children in all fields and disciplines. This could only be achieved by having a knowledgeable and honest generation, capable of bearing responsibility, beneficial to homeland, and a source of pride for the nation. So, whosoever helps to build such a generation beneficial to its community will be highly rewarded, as s/he would comply with the command of Allah's instruction in His book: "And cooperate in righteousness and piety". (Qur'an, 5:2); "And advise each other to [hold to] the truth". (Qur'an, 103:3)
As for whoever works to change facts in order to claim the active equal to the inactive, and the knowledgeable to the ignorant, then s/he would then deceive his nation, breach his honesty, and spoil her/his society, as s/he would then be helping to give authority to those who do not deserve it. This indicates an imbalance of values, and a loss of trust in the society. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "When honesty is lost, then wait for the [Last] Hour." It was asked, "How will honesty be lost, O Allah's Messenger?" He said, "When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the [Last] Hour." (Reported by Al-Bukhārῑ)
By applying the above-mentioned criteria to the point of the question, we would thus answer the questioner as follows: You are not permitted to take the position of the student in the exam he was called for to be evaluated. This is cheating, dishonesty, lying, and fabrication, which are all prohibited, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "He who cheats is not one of us, and cunningness and deceit would lead to [punishment in] Hellfire". (Narrated by Ibn Ḥibbān in his Hadith Collection, and At-Tabarānῑ in his Dictionary)
And if you, questioner, want to help him with what you could be rewarded for, then support him, and help him to understand. That should be before the date of the exams, then leave him after understanding his lectures to answer the exam himself. This is a matter of cooperation on righteousness and piety. As a matter of teaching, this is useful knowledge that would bring you goodness in this world, and will be an asset for you after your death. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "When a human being dies, her/his deeds would come to an end except for three things: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a virtuous descendant who prays for her/him". (Reported by Muslim)
In conclusion: The committee advises the students to fear Allah Almighty, and abide by diligence, perseverance, perfection, and self-reliance, after putting trust in Allah, and adopting all means to reach success and excellence.