Question
Reference number: 481548 | Miscellaneous | Aug. 5, 2026
What is the ruling on lying about academic grades out of fear of envy?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. To proceed:
It's not permissible for a Muslim to lie, so a student is not permitted to lie about their academic grades, such as having a grade of 97 but telling people that it is 90 or 85, or claiming that their grades are low when they are actually high. This is considered prohibited lying and is not permissible merely out of fear of envy.
A student is not required to disclose their grades when asked. Rather, they may keep them private, politely decline to mention them, or give a truthful but general response, such as, “Praise be to Allah, the result is good,” or, “I prefer not to talk about grades.” It is also advisable to preserve this blessing through gratitude, remembrance of Allah, and reliance on Him.
And Allah knows best.
