Question:
Slm,
I want to ask about examination fees.
Am I as a student allowed/permitted to pay to sit exams when there is no guarantee that I will pass?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother in Islam,
The purpose of an examination fee is to cover any administrative costs incurred by the certifying body or institution for their assessment services.[i]Hence, you are paying a fee to be allowed to sit for an exam. This is irrespective of whether you pass or fail. Accordingly, it is permissible to pay an examination fee in order to sit an exam.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hammad Ibn Ismail Jogiat
Student - Darul Iftaa
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[i]درر الحكام شرح مجلة الأحكام لعلي حيدر – دار الكتب العلمية – ج = ١، ص = ٣٨٣
[(الْمَادَّةُ 422) الْأَجِيرُ عَلَى قِسْمَيْنِ](الْمَادَّةُ 422) :
الْأَجِيرُ عَلَى قِسْمَيْنِ:
الْقِسْمُ الْأَوَّلُ هُوَ الْأَجِيرُ الْخَاصُّ الَّذِي اُسْتُؤْجِرَ عَلَى أَنْ يَعْمَلَ لِلْمُسْتَأْجِرِ فَقَطْ كَالْخَادِمِ الْمُوَظَّفِ.
الْقِسْمُ الثَّانِي هُوَ الْأَجِيرُ الْمُشْتَرَكُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بِمُقَيَّدٍ بِشَرْطِ أَلَّا يَعْمَلَ لِغَيْرِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرِ كَالْحَمَّالِ وَالدَّلَّالِ وَالْخَيَّاطِ والسَّاعَاتِيِّ وَالصَّائِغِ وَأَصْحَابِ كَرْوَسَاتِ الْكِرَاءِ وَأَصْحَابِ الزَّوَارِقِ الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُكَارُونَ فِي الشَّوَارِعِ وَالْجُوَّالُ مَثَلًا فَإِنَّ كُلًّا مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ أَجِيرٌ مُشْتَرَكٌ لَا يَخْتَصُّ بِشَخْصٍ وَاحِدٍ وَلَهُ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ لِكُلِّ أَحَدٍ.
