Anonymous asked 6 months ago
Asa,
Would it be permissible to use Open AI softwares like the Chat GPT 3 technology to write school essays for oneself? Would it be more acceptable to do so just for inspiration and research purposes?
Mufti Wahaaj Staff answered 6 months ago
بسم الله الرحمٰن الرحيم
الجواب حامداً ومصلياً
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
A famous maxim in fiqh is that “that which is customarily practiced is tantamount to a stipulated agreement.”[1] In school, the expectation is that a student will do their own work. It is not acceptable to have anyone other than the student complete the assignment – even if that “someone” is AI software. The purpose of an assignment is for a student to demonstrate their ability and understanding of the subject and, on that basis, earn a score that reflects their level of mastery.
Having AI compose an essay does not reflect any understanding of the subject. Rather, by presenting the essay as one’s own original work, it is actually a form of deception, which is a great sin. Rasūlullāh ﷺ has said that the one who deceives is not from us (the Muslims).[2]
However, it would be permissible to use AI for ideas and research purposes provided that the resources are properly cited.
والله تعالى أعلم وعلمه أتم وبه التوفيق
And Allāh Taʿālā Knows Best
Muftī Mohammed Wahaajuddin bin Salauddin
(May Allāh forgive him and his parents)
Concurred by Muftī Qasim Abdullah حفظه الله
—
الأشباه والنظائر، ص٨٥، دار الكتب العلمية
الْمَعْرُوفُ كَالْمَشْرُوطِ، فَعَلَى الْمُفْتَى بِهِ صَارَتْ عَادَتُهُ كَالْمَشْرُوطِ صَرِيحًا
صحيح مسلم، كتاب الايمان، باب قول النبي ﷺ، من غشنا فليس منا، #102
وَحَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ، وَابْنُ، حُجْرٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، – قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، – قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الْعَلاَءُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَّ عَلَى صُبْرَةِ طَعَامٍ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهَا فَنَالَتْ أَصَابِعُهُ بَلَلاً فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا يَا صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ؟ قَالَ أَصَابَتْهُ السَّمَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ: أَفَلاَ جَعَلْتَهُ فَوْقَ الطَّعَامِ كَىْ يَرَاهُ النَّاسُ مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي.
سنن أبي داود، كتاب الاجارة، باب النهي عن الغش، #3452
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَّ بِرَجُلٍ يَبِيعُ طَعَامًا فَسَأَلَهُ:كَيْفَ تَبِيعُ؟ . فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَأُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ أَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِيهِ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مَبْلُولٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ غَشَّ.