Nowadays students get their assignments, essays and research papers written by artificial intelligence programs such as ChatGPT and submit them under their own names, and some freelancers also do this same work for them for a fee. What is the Shar'i ruling on this? And what about using these tools in ordinary halal writing work?

The purpose of an assignment and a research paper is the student's training, the testing of his ability, and the examination of his own effort. A student who gets the entire work written by artificial intelligence or by another person and presents it under his own name commits deception and falsehood and claims something that he himself did not do. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever deceives us is not one of us" (Sahih Muslim: 101). And he said: "Whoever presents himself as possessing in abundance that which he was not given is like one who wears two garments of falsehood" (Sahih Bukhari: 5219, Sahih Muslim: 2129). When marks, a degree and a certificate are obtained on the basis of this falsehood, this case is absolutely haram. The same ruling applies when the work is got done by a classmate or by a human writer; changing the means does not change the reality.

A person who takes a fee to write assignments, essays or papers for others so that they submit them under their own names is a participant in this deception and a helper in sin. Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ﴾ (do not cooperate in sin and transgression) (Surah al-Ma'idah: 2). Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about such people who write reports and essays for students and thereby get them degrees, and he said that this is in reality betrayal, because its outcome is merely obtaining a certificate, and he warned the writers of its evil consequence. Therefore such earnings are not halal and pure; avoiding them is necessary.

- Using them as a helper in learning and research is permissible: gathering information and sources, understanding a difficult point, correcting language and style — provided that the original academic effort is the student's own. Just as it is permissible to look at someone's work, understand it and then write oneself, so too understanding by means of these tools is permissible. - It is necessary to remain within the extent of help that the educational institution has permitted; if there is doubt, one should ask the teacher, because observing the agreement and the institution's rules is a trust. Allah Almighty says: ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا﴾ (Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to those to whom they are due) (Surah an-Nisa: 58). - Providing outward services for a fee is permissible: typing, formatting, proofreading, and translating what one has written oneself. - Using these tools in non-educational halal writing and office work is in principle permissible, provided there is no falsehood, no theft of anyone's academic right, and no breach of agreement.

Among the objectives of the Shariah are the protection of integrity and truthfulness and the preservation of the worth and value of knowledge. When certificates begin to be obtained without effort, unqualified people reach responsible positions and the whole society pays the price of this corruption. Allah Almighty says: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ﴾ (O you who believe, fear Allah and be with the truthful) (Surah at-Tawbah: 119).

Translated from the original Urdu fatwa.