Does Not Doing Homework Entail Breaking Trusts?
Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I am a 13 year old girl doing memorizing Qur’an. If my teacher tells me to do something,and I told her I would do it but then I don’t do it, would this make me an hypocrite?
Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam. Thank you for writing in. Masha’Allah for your high aspirations in memorising the Qur’an as well as your diligence in wanting to the do the right thing. May Allah increase you.
Not doing your revision or homework would not come under ‘breaking trusts’, which is the action of the hypocrites. It is normal to have days where you don’t end up revising, and as long as you don’t lie to the teacher, there is nothing to worry about.
Keeping Trusts
The texts that mention keeping trusts (amana) can be general and refer to the trust between a servant and God, such as obeying His commands and avoiding the prohibitions.
This moral and legal responsibility is what is referred to when God says, ‘Truly, We did offer the Trust (al Amana) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it.’ [33:72].
Likewise, keeping trusts can refer to personal and financial dealings between people, such as contracts and agreements, financial rights and responsibilities, fulfilling promises and keeping secrets etc. Allah Most High says, ‘‘Those who faithfully observe their trusts [amanatihim] and their covenants … These will be the heirs who will inherit Paradise.’ [23:8-11].
Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said, ‘There are three signs of a hypocrite: whenever he speaks he lies; whenever he promises, he breaks his promises; and whenever he has been entrusted, he betrays his trust; even if he fasts and prays and even if he claims he is a Muslim.’ [al Bukhari, Muslim].
In all these, there is an element of trust and safe-keeping, and the Muslim should be careful not to act treacherously, which is a trait of hypocrite.
As we can see, not doing one’s homework does not come under this category. However, that does not mean one should be remiss or lax in doing homework or revision, as doing so only hinders the student and let’s down the teacher who only wants to help the student. If, however, one is not remiss usually but sometimes is unable to revise or complete homework, then they are excused. And Allah knows best.
May Allah grant you every success and help you memorise His Book, and carry the trust of memorising it so it will be a source of light and blessing on the Day of Judgement for you.
Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah
Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.
