What should they do when a friend wants answers to copy in a test? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a friend asks to copy answers during a test, your child faces a classic moral struggle between kindness and conscience. They may not want to hurt their friend’s feelings, yet they also know that cheating is wrong. Your role as a parent is to help them understand that real friendship does not grow through dishonesty. Begin by acknowledging how uncomfortable such situations feel. You could say, ‘I know you want to help your friend, but helping someone to do the wrong thing only hurts them more in the end.’ 

Reframe What ‘Helping’ Really Means 

Children often confuse loyalty with cooperation in all situations. Explain that refusing to share answers is not selfish; it is an act that protects both people from dishonour. You can say, ‘True help means offering to study with your friend beforehand, not helping them to cheat in the moment.’ Remind your child that integrity builds trust, which is a far more valuable gift to a friendship than temporary approval. 

Provide Practical Phrases to Refuse Calmly 

Many children give in to this kind of pressure simply because they do not know how to say ‘no’ without sounding rude. Offer them some confident and respectful replies. 

• ‘I cannot do that; it would not be fair to either of us.’ 

• ‘Let us plan to study together for the next test instead.’ 

• ‘If I help you to cheat, we will both get into trouble.’ 

Role-play these lines at home so that your child can practise their tone and posture, helping them to be calm and firm, not defensive. 

Handling Guilt or Peer Reaction 

Your child may fear being called selfish or uncaring. Help them to recognise this as a form of emotional manipulation, not a true reflection of their character. Explain that people who respect them will not ask them to lie or cheat. Afterwards, if their friend reacts negatively, support your child in standing firm. You can say, ‘You made the right choice. Sometimes it takes people a while to see what is fair.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, honesty and personal responsibility are considered acts of worship. Cheating in any form, even silently allowing someone to copy your work, is a betrayal of trust. The noble Quran and the hadith clearly guide believers to value truthfulness above the approval of others. 

The Trust Between a Believer and Allah 

The Quran condemns dishonesty in all its forms, even in small acts that disrupt fairness. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Mutaffifeen (83), Verses 1–3: 

‘Woe be to those fraudsters (who shortchange people in their material dealings); those people when they account (for receipts) from people, they demand it in full. And when they account (for debts) upon them, or (they have to pay) by weight, they cause a loss (to the other).’ 

This verse warns against taking more than one’s rightful share. You can explain to your child that cheating on a test is a form of deceiving others for personal gain. Allah Almighty sees these shortcuts, even if they seem small to us. 

The Seriousness of Deceit 

Although the following hadith refers to merchants, its principle applies to every situation that involves trust, including schoolwork. A test, like a business deal, is a form of amanah (trust). When your child sits for a test, they are being trusted by their teacher and by Allah to be truthful about what they know. The Prophet ﷺ elevated honesty to one of the highest stations of faith. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1209, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The truthful and trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful, and the martyrs.’ 

This teaches that integrity in small, unseen acts, like refusing to share answers, is not trivial; it builds the same character that earns eternal honour. You can tell your child, ‘Every time you protect the truth, even when your friend thinks you are being strict, you are stepping closer to the company of the truthful.’ 

Cheating may promise quick results, but it silently weakens trust and self-respect. Teach your child that Allah Almighty loves those who are sincere in secret and in public alike. When they protect the truth during a test, they are protecting their soul from dishonour. Remind them gently that every exam is temporary, but their character is forever, and in every moment of temptation, choosing honesty is choosing the path that leads to light.