Q: I'd like to enquire whether we are allowed to award students with trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd position, full attendance etc. in madrasah?
A: Awarding students with a prize for full attendance, or for excelling in studies, is permissible as an incentive to work harder and as a motivation to progress in deen. However, giving a trophy to the student has resemblance with the ways of the kuffaar. Furthermore, people keep these trophies to show off and boast among people, whereas Islam condemns showing off and boasting. Therefore, they should not be given trophies as prizes.
Apart from this, there is no benefit that the student can take through the trophy. On the contrary, if he is given something that he can derive benefit through e.g. a deeni kitaab, or even some edible gift, then this will be better.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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