What is the ruling on seeking help from some colleagues to answer a question in an exam that is mandatory, even if the question contains something that leads to completion?

The questioner : The questioner says: What is the ruling on seeking help from some colleagues to answer a question in an exam that is mandatory, even if its explanation leads to completion?

The Shaykh : Helping a colleague answer in an exam: if it is in the English language, there is no harm; if it is in any other language, it is not permissible.

The questioner : All cheating, O Shaykh, whether in English or otherwise.

The Shaykh : I said that because some people, unfortunately, say that cheating in the English language is permissible. Consider this: cheating in the English language is permissible? Well, you call it cheating and say it is permissible, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The government has arranged these courses and obligated the student to take them, and it has arranged things contingent upon graduating from this stage. So if you graduate from this stage by cheating, it means that you do not deserve the ranks that the government has arranged for graduation from this stage. You graduate and acquire wealth that may be forbidden, it may be forbidden, because it is based on lying and betrayal. Therefore, cheating and being cheated is not permissible in any subject of study, whether English, mathematics, or otherwise. It is necessary that a person has taken his due. As for depriving someone of what he deserves for personal purposes between the teacher and the student, this is also forbidden and a betrayal of trust. Because some teachers who do not fear Allah, if there is some misunderstanding between him and the student, he goes to reduce his grades, whether in the year's work or the exam grades. This is forbidden and a betrayal. Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: And what is greater than the polytheists preventing the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) from the Sacred Mosque? This is among the greatest of transgressions. And yet Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: meaning, do not let your hatred and enmity toward them lead you to transgress. Rather, the obligation is justice and equity, and that the teacher forgets what is between him and the student during the exam and the assignment of grades. The conclusion, O brothers, O students, is that cheating and being cheated is forbidden. But I want to ask a question: if I see a person cheating another person, do I say, "This is his provision," and leave it, or do I not report it? I report it. I witnessed, I witnessed one of my colleagues cheating him, either the proctor or one of the students. Is it permissible for me to remain silent? No, it is obligatory for me to report it, because this falls under the category of cooperating in righteousness and piety. And when we graduate, O young men, when we graduate at this weak level based on cheating, when will there be culture? We wish to be culturally educated and capable so that we are at the level required of us. And unfortunately, when the matter of exams is generally, or sometimes—we do not say generally—there is cheating, you find the graduate fleeing from teaching as if fleeing from a lion. Why? Because he knows that if he stands before the students, he will be a failure. So he goes to seek administrative or clerical jobs, where we can get someone from the market to take his place or do better, so that he is not embarrassed before the students or so that he does not tire himself preparing lessons and teaching the sons of the nation.