Giving a bribe, even through an intermediary
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 20723 )
Q: I have an office that handles paperwork in several government departments, and I personally strive to clear and complete my clients' transactions. Sometimes I am able to clear and complete these transactions, but other times I find it difficult to clear them, so we send these transactions to an intermediary between me and these departments to complete and clear them using his personal connections. I give him an agreed-upon amount for this service. However, after a period of time, I felt that this intermediary does not clear or complete these transactions unless he pays a nominal amount to some of the employees in these departments to speed up their completion and clearance. I do not assert this as a fact; rather, I suspect that he does so based on my understanding of some of his words. In any case, he has not told me this, and I did not agree with him on it. I note that this office is my sole source of income from which I live. What is the ruling on dealing with this intermediary, and is there any sin on me for dealing with him in this situation,
given my suspicion of him without certainty of his action? Should I continue dealing with him as long as I have not confirmed this action of his, or should I cut off dealings with him? Please inform us, may you be rewarded.
A: It is obligatory for you to clear the transactions you committed to clearing, and to do so yourself. As for what you are unable to clear, do not commit to it, so that you do not fall into the difficulty you mentioned, which is giving a bribe, even through an intermediary. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I have an office that handles paperwork in several government departments, and I personally strive to clear and complete my clients' transactions. Sometimes I am able to clear and complete these transactions, but other times I find it difficult to clear them, so we send these transactions to an intermediary between me and these departments to complete and clear them using his personal connections. I give him an agreed-upon amount for this service. However, after a period of time, I felt that this intermediary does not clear or complete these transactions unless he pays a nominal amount to some of the employees in these departments to speed up their completion and clearance. I do not assert this as a fact; rather, I suspect that he does so based on my understanding of some of his words. In any case, he has not told me this, and I did not agree with him on it. I note that this office is my sole source of income from which I live. What is the ruling on dealing with this intermediary, and is there any sin on me for dealing with him in this situation,
given my suspicion of him without certainty of his action? Should I continue dealing with him as long as I have not confirmed this action of his, or should I cut off dealings with him? Please inform us, may you be rewarded.
A: It is obligatory for you to clear the transactions you committed to clearing, and to do so yourself. As for what you are unable to clear, do not commit to it, so that you do not fall into the difficulty you mentioned, which is giving a bribe, even through an intermediary. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.