Fatwa #1987919 March 2012Pakistan
Is it permissible to be a ghost writer?
Question
I have been appointed as a ghost writer online. i.e. I shall get writing jobs and get paid for them but won’t know where my work is being used. But rumor has it that mostly students around the world are using ghost writers to do their assignments for them. So does that make it “helping in cheating”? Should I or shouldn’t I take the job?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
To write articles which do not consist of any impermissible content as a profession is permissible. One should not dismiss the permissibility of ghost writing on the mere rumor of it being misused. There is no need to delve into the usage of your writing.[1] If there is clear evidence to suggest your works will be used inappropriately then you should refuse this offer.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Ali bin Cassim
Student Darul Iftaa
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
[1] المبسوط للسرخسي (16/ 39)
وَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يُؤَاجِرَ الْمُسْلِمُ دَارًا مِنْ الذِّمِّيِّ لِيَسْكُنَهَا فَإِنْ شَرِبَ فِيهَا الْخَمْرَ، أَوْ عَبَدَ فِيهَا الصَّلِيبَ، أَوْ أَدْخَلَ فِيهَا الْخَنَازِيرَ لَمْ يَلْحَقْ الْمُسْلِمَ إثْمٌ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُؤَاجِرْهَا لِذَلِكَ وَالْمَعْصِيَةُ فِي فِعْلِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرِ وَفِعْلُهُ دُونَ قَصْدِ رَبِّ الدَّارِ فَلَا إثْمَ عَلَى رَبِّ الدَّارِ فِي ذَلِكَ