What is the ruling on prohibiting the writing of the Basmala on examination papers?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
It was said to me that in one of the women’s colleges, there is a teacher who prohibits writing the name of Allah or "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim" on the exam paper. It is said that in one of the exams, a woman wrote "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim," so the school invalidated the exam because of the writing. Also, some foreign female teachers bring with them a recorder and a tape of Western songs. This is during the break time, and they say, "Dance, girls," so the sinful women dance and the believing women leave. We ask that the necessary action be taken in this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
We will see, may Allah note the matter, if Allah wills. Regarding this matter, if the report is true, it may be that the exams are discarded after that or thrown away after that, but this is wrong. As for the naming in the exams, it is necessary to mention Allah in them and in the answers. So, not naming Allah, not naming it thus, is wrong. Naming is prescribed at the beginning of the exam, at the beginning of important questions, even if they are thrown away by some people. The one who throws them away is the one who throws the papers or newspapers in the trash, that is the other one. As for the one who wrote this newspaper or wrote this text, he is rewarded, because a person is commanded to name Allah in his writings. And so it happens in writings; he names Allah. 'Abd al-Rahman 'Abd al-'Aziz does this. These are things that are not permissible to throw in the trash or in the markets under the feet. No, they must be lifted up and believed in. People must put them on shelves or put them away when they are done with them, or burn them when they are done with them. As for throwing them in the trash, this is an abomination and is not permissible. And the intention is that some people criticize writing "Bismillah" on some newspapers or in exams. This is wrong. The name of Allah is written, and I do not deny "Bismillah," and the verses are likewise. But the one who has the newspaper in his hand or the papers on which it is written, he does not throw them in the trash. No, rather he preserves them for his need, or buries them in good earth, or burns them, or throws them in the trash, or in the markets, or in the place of the bath. This is not permissible. And there is no doubt that the teachers and female teachers have a responsibility. The teachers and the educators and the female teachers have a great responsibility in evil and good. So, it is obligatory for the teachers and the educators and the female teachers to fear Allah, and to teach people good, and to be discerning, and not to be ignorant, and not to be such that they are chosen and selected from among the acquaintances and non-acquaintances. They should fear Allah and ask and be discerning so that they do not contract with anyone except one who is suitable for the work among men and women. This is a great danger, a great danger for the female teachers and male teachers, a very great danger in beliefs, morals, deeds, and knowledge, all of it. We ask Allah for safety. Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. If he is done with it because it is a burden, but if he buries it or burns it, the burden is removed, or he puts it on a shelf or in a chair or in a file and preserves it. As for it remaining, it does not remain, or if it contains the mention of Allah or "Bismillah."
It was said to me that in one of the women’s colleges, there is a teacher who prohibits writing the name of Allah or "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim" on the exam paper. It is said that in one of the exams, a woman wrote "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim," so the school invalidated the exam because of the writing. Also, some foreign female teachers bring with them a recorder and a tape of Western songs. This is during the break time, and they say, "Dance, girls," so the sinful women dance and the believing women leave. We ask that the necessary action be taken in this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
We will see, may Allah note the matter, if Allah wills. Regarding this matter, if the report is true, it may be that the exams are discarded after that or thrown away after that, but this is wrong. As for the naming in the exams, it is necessary to mention Allah in them and in the answers. So, not naming Allah, not naming it thus, is wrong. Naming is prescribed at the beginning of the exam, at the beginning of important questions, even if they are thrown away by some people. The one who throws them away is the one who throws the papers or newspapers in the trash, that is the other one. As for the one who wrote this newspaper or wrote this text, he is rewarded, because a person is commanded to name Allah in his writings. And so it happens in writings; he names Allah. 'Abd al-Rahman 'Abd al-'Aziz does this. These are things that are not permissible to throw in the trash or in the markets under the feet. No, they must be lifted up and believed in. People must put them on shelves or put them away when they are done with them, or burn them when they are done with them. As for throwing them in the trash, this is an abomination and is not permissible. And the intention is that some people criticize writing "Bismillah" on some newspapers or in exams. This is wrong. The name of Allah is written, and I do not deny "Bismillah," and the verses are likewise. But the one who has the newspaper in his hand or the papers on which it is written, he does not throw them in the trash. No, rather he preserves them for his need, or buries them in good earth, or burns them, or throws them in the trash, or in the markets, or in the place of the bath. This is not permissible. And there is no doubt that the teachers and female teachers have a responsibility. The teachers and the educators and the female teachers have a great responsibility in evil and good. So, it is obligatory for the teachers and the educators and the female teachers to fear Allah, and to teach people good, and to be discerning, and not to be ignorant, and not to be such that they are chosen and selected from among the acquaintances and non-acquaintances. They should fear Allah and ask and be discerning so that they do not contract with anyone except one who is suitable for the work among men and women. This is a great danger, a great danger for the female teachers and male teachers, a very great danger in beliefs, morals, deeds, and knowledge, all of it. We ask Allah for safety. Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. If he is done with it because it is a burden, but if he buries it or burns it, the burden is removed, or he puts it on a shelf or in a chair or in a file and preserves it. As for it remaining, it does not remain, or if it contains the mention of Allah or "Bismillah."
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ ابن باز Alsheikh Binbaz»، 031 ما حكم منع كتابة البسملة على أوراق الاختبارات؟ للإمام ابن باز — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.
