Ruling on Using Another Student’s Meal Card

17-2-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

salam. I am a university student. My school offers free meals , but this is conditional on fulfilling certain requirements. This rule was added recently . I did not meet these requirements and lost my eligibility for the meals.However, a friend of mine who is eligible is currently out of the city and has offered to lend me his student badge so I can use it to eat at the cafeteria. Is this considered deception (ghish) ?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

If the university stipulates that the student must personally benefit from the provided meals, then using your friend’s card to obtain those meals is not permissible Islamically. Furthermore, it constitutes deception and dishonesty, because the meals are allocated only to those who meet the required conditions, and in reality, you do not fulfill those conditions. Allah, the Most High, Says (what means): {And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly} [Quran 2:188]

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever deceives is not from me (is not my follower).” (Muslim)

Your acceptance of enrollment and benefit from the university’s services is based on compliance with its regulations. Islamic law obligates fulfilling conditions that are not unlawful and do not contradict any Islamic text or established principle. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The Muslims are bound by their conditions.” [Bukhari]

Allah Knows best