All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

It is an obligation upon every Muslim to uphold truthfulness (Sidq) in their words, actions, and all circumstances. Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true." [At-Tawbah/119]. The prohibition of lying and fraud to attain worldly gains is well-established in Islamic Law (Sharia). Indeed, deception and falsehood are considered among the major sins (Azha’im al-Dhunub). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever cheats us is not of us" (Narrated by al-Bukhari). The sin is aggravated when such deception is done in exchange for financial compensation. Allah the Exalted says {what means}: "So avoid the filth of idols and avoid false testimony." [Al-Hajj/30]. Consequently, any wealth acquired through false declarations is classified as ill-gotten gain (Suht) and constitutes the unlawful consumption of people’s property through falsehood (Akl amwal al-nas bi al-batil).

Furthermore, it is strictly prohibited for the owners of educational platforms to attribute to themselves merits they do not possess, such as claiming a top student was among their pupils when that is not the case. Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The one who pretends to have been given what he has not been given is like the one who wears two garments of falsehood" (Narrated by al-Bukhari). This act is a form of prohibited deception (Tadlis) and lying.

In conclusion: Lying in media statements or advertisements is strictly forbidden in all cases, whether the falsehood originates from the students or the owners of the educational platforms. The gravity of the sin increases when this deception is tied to a paid financial reward. And Allah the Exalted knows best.