Working for a contracting company that deals in bribery
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Fatwa number ( 1324 )
Q: If a man works for a contracting company that offers bribes to secure its rights and to win bids, and when it is unable to complete a contract it borrows money from banks with interest at specific rates, is the employee in this company a partner in the sin? Is it permissible for him to take a salary for his work there? Is it also permissible for him to take a specific percentage for handling the paperwork and collecting the amounts? Do you advise him to leave this job? Please inform us.
A: Working for a contracting company that deals in bribery, such as bribing officials during bidding to secure the award of the contract, and which also deals with banks in usurious transactions for the company’s contracts—working for this company and its like involves cooperation in sin
and transgression, by restricting usurious transactions, or transferring them, or handling their paperwork, or receiving or paying out the amounts involved, and so on, all of which relates to usury and bribery. Cooperation in this is forbidden; as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:2] And it is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sahih Muslim 1598. It was narrated by Muslim . Accordingly, it is not permissible for him to take the salary or the specific percentage for handling the paperwork of usurious transactions and collecting their amounts. He should seek another job that does not involve directly engaging in what is forbidden or assisting in it, in order to avoid what Allah has forbidden and to strive for lawful earnings. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: If a man works for a contracting company that offers bribes to secure its rights and to win bids, and when it is unable to complete a contract it borrows money from banks with interest at specific rates, is the employee in this company a partner in the sin? Is it permissible for him to take a salary for his work there? Is it also permissible for him to take a specific percentage for handling the paperwork and collecting the amounts? Do you advise him to leave this job? Please inform us.
A: Working for a contracting company that deals in bribery, such as bribing officials during bidding to secure the award of the contract, and which also deals with banks in usurious transactions for the company’s contracts—working for this company and its like involves cooperation in sin
and transgression, by restricting usurious transactions, or transferring them, or handling their paperwork, or receiving or paying out the amounts involved, and so on, all of which relates to usury and bribery. Cooperation in this is forbidden; as Allah the Exalted said:
And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِcursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: They are all equal.
لعن آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديه، وقال: هم في الإثم سواء
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.