Should I Report a Possible Passing Grade Mistake to My Professor?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Should I tell my professor if I think my passing grade might’ve been a mistake?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
This is a beautiful and honest question, and the fact that you’re asking it already says a lot about your character.
Allah (Most High) says,
“O believers! Stand firm for justice as witnesses for Allah even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or close relatives. Be they rich or poor, Allah is best to ensure their interests. So do not let your desires cause you to deviate (from justice). If you distort the testimony or refuse to give it, then ˹know that˺ Allah is certainly All-Aware of what you do.” [4:135]
If you genuinely suspect that your grade was given in error, then yes, you should bring it to your professor’s attention. Even if it’s uncomfortable, it is part of being truthful and trustworthy, qualities Islam encourages us to live by in all aspects of life, including our studies.
Allah (Most High) says,
“O believers! Be mindful of Allah, and say what is right.” [Quran, 33:70]
We’re taught to act with integrity, not because others are watching, but because Allah is. And while it might seem like you’re giving up an advantage by saying something, know that nothing you lose in being honest will ever be a real loss. What is truly meant for you will always reach you, and what isn’t, no matter how tightly you try to hold onto it, will eventually slip away.
So yes, speak up, not to your detriment, but to protect your heart, your faith, and your sense of responsibility. And trust that Allah will take care of the outcome as best as possible.
May Allah grant you success, sincerity, and baraka in all your efforts.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
