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The Bribe |
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The Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribe. Sunan of Abu Dawood Hadith No. 1595 Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters, As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you) One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question: Dearest Brother Burhan, Salaam ale kum w.r.w.b. What is the case if the bribe is given by a employee by the order of his employer to finalize a business deal. Is it a sin for the person who gives the bribe on the orders of his superiors? Jazak Allah Kheir Your brother in Islam (There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.) Answer: Bribe given by an employee on behalf of his employer.In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers. Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 188: Do not usurp one another’s property by unjust means, nor offer it to the judges so that you may devour knowingly and unjustly a portion of the goods of others. The Messenger of Allah (saws) cursed the one who accepts the bribe, and the one who pays it. In Islam, to ACCEPT a bribe in any form and under any circumstances is absolutely forbidden. It is also forbidden in Islam to PAY a bribe to take something which does not rightfully belong to you. It is also forbidden in Islam to PAY a bribe to get something which is the right of someone else. The scholars in Islam are of the opinion that if one, who as a citizen, has a right to get something, and someone in power is blocking this right and asking for a bribe, and who will never give you what is rightfully yours unless you pay the bribe, then the sin is on the person who is demanding the bribe. If you do not pay the bribe and stand firm and accept the challenges that might come your way to stay within the boundaries of Allah, Allah will be pleased with you and reward you for your steadfastness and patience abundantly. But if the circumstances are such, that you are being blocked to get what should rightfully be yours, and you pay the bribe with a heavy heart, the sin is on the one who demands and accepts the bribe. For one who indeed believes in Allah and the Last Day, the command and guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws) is above everything else, including his employer. One cannot go against any commandment of Allah and His Messenger (saws), simply because his employer has ordered him. Just imagine, if your employer orders you to kill somebody, would you do it just because your superiors have ordered the killing? To pay a bribe is a sin, and one must abstain from this and all sins in Islam, if indeed he fears Allah and the Last Day. And Allah Alone Knows Best, and He is the Only Source of Strength. May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam. Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Your Brother in Islam, Burhan
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