Lying to get overseas tuition concessions

3-5-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

We have to disclose our income and bank statements to the education department to get concession in the overseas fee that we have to pay for our daughter which is $ 279/per week. We have drawn some amount from my husband's account which we actually sent to my mother so that she can invest it in her name for us. We do have savings but we don't want to use them towards paying this fee as we are living in uncertain circumstances. I am showing this amount as repayment of loan to the Education department to get the concession. Do you think it is acceptable because if I don't get the concession it will be difficult for us, in our present weekly income, to pay the full weekly fee. Could you please advise me, in the above mentioned circumstances, if I show the amount that we have withdrawn as a loan will be considered as telling a lie or committing a sin. I will appreciate if you can answer my question as early as possible as I have to send the details to the Department soon.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Informing the concerned authority that the money you withdraw from your bank account and send to your mother for investment purposes is spent in the repayment of a loan is considered a lie and fraud. It is impermissible for you to do so. The reason you mentioned in the question does not justify lying. Forgery for financial gains is impermissible in Islam because it is considered lying and devouring people’s money unlawfully; therefore, you should stop doing that. Please refer to Fatwa 87867.

Allaah Knows best.