JEDDAH — Taking a job with a forged certificate is totally against the teachings of Islam, according to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Ali Al-Mubaraki, member of the Council of Senior Scholars. "The repentance from this sin cannot be complete unless the holder of the job gives up the position and abandons the degree," he said. Mubaraki described obtaining forged certificates as tantamount to cheating, which is forbidden by Islam. "Cheating in examinations and similar things is prohibited. The salaries one get from a job obtained with the help of a forged degree is also illegal under our religion," he said. Muabaraki said selling and buying of fake certificates is totally against Islam according to the Holy Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He described the cheater as a traitor and said selling and buying of fake degrees has become a phenomenon. "The most dangerous of jobs the holder of a fake degree can get is in the field of medicine and related domains," he said. Mubaraki said holders of false certificates are also cheaters of the state, which entrusted them with the jobs. "A teacher with a forged certificate is cheating the school, his students, the parents and society," he said. He asked all those who have obtained forged degrees to repent immediately giving up their jobs and abandon their certificates. "When these people repent sincerely, Allah will compensate them for their lost jobs and will give them from His unaccountable bounties," he said. While denouncing forgers and forged certificates, Mubaraki asked, "How can a nation ever develop on fake degrees?"
