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Is it forbidden to choose a random answer in multiple-choice questions when ignorant of the correct answer?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Answering randomly in exams is not cheating or deception. Exams are designed to allow for this, and educational institutions are aware that students rely on luck and guessing.

As for answering Sharia questions in exams by guessing, this does not fall under speaking about Allah without knowledge. This is because the context of answering in an exam differs from the context of issuing a fatwa (religious ruling) and definitively stating a Sharia judgment. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, posed questions to his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and they answered and made mistakes, and this was not considered speaking without knowledge; rather, he approved of their answers.

Dr. Abdul Karim Al-Khudair mentioned that speaking about Allah without knowledge applies to fatwas that involve definitive pronouncements and obligations. However, guessing in a study session or when answering a question, without certainty or obligation, carries no blame.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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