The Ruling on Bribery and Favoritism in Employment
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Your Eminence! I have a question to convey on behalf of a colleague in Riyadh: This man works in one of the military sectors, and several numbers (job slots) have been left vacant in this same sector. To be more precise, in this area of Riyadh, the distances from one neighborhood to another are far. There are numbers for which there are several applications, and the applicants want them. The job is the same job; however, the distance for these numbers would be closer to this person if he moved to that location, making it closer to his workplace and more comfortable than his current job. It is the same job, but the closer one is more restful. He cannot obtain this number unless he requests it from the person with the authority who holds the number, and pays a sum of money amounting to fifty thousand riyals. Is it permissible for him to pay this amount to obtain this number, given that there are people who have applications for this same number? However, he refuses and insists on this number and others until he receives this money in exchange?
I say: There is nothing wrong with this action, provided that he keeps the money he gives him, and then reports to the responsible authorities so that they may punish this man, whom we consider to be a taker of bribes and a traitor to his authority. For it is obligatory for the one entrusted with such matters to look at what is best for the work, regardless of so-and-so, and not to favor anyone for his closeness, nor anyone for his bribe, nor anyone for his poverty. Rather, he should look at the public benefit of the work. If this man is able to write something hidden in what he gives as a bribe, or in the check, for example, to transfer it, there is nothing wrong with that. But on the condition that he brings the matter to the responsible person above the one to whom the authority was entrusted, so that he may be punished and taste his retribution.
As for if he is not able to do this, then it is not permissible for him to give the bribe.
The questioner: There are people who applied for this job,And they did not submit their applications! The Shaykh: I understand! Even if no one applied, the bribe is not permissible.
I say: There is nothing wrong with this action, provided that he keeps the money he gives him, and then reports to the responsible authorities so that they may punish this man, whom we consider to be a taker of bribes and a traitor to his authority. For it is obligatory for the one entrusted with such matters to look at what is best for the work, regardless of so-and-so, and not to favor anyone for his closeness, nor anyone for his bribe, nor anyone for his poverty. Rather, he should look at the public benefit of the work. If this man is able to write something hidden in what he gives as a bribe, or in the check, for example, to transfer it, there is nothing wrong with that. But on the condition that he brings the matter to the responsible person above the one to whom the authority was entrusted, so that he may be punished and taste his retribution.
As for if he is not able to do this, then it is not permissible for him to give the bribe.
The questioner: There are people who applied for this job,And they did not submit their applications! The Shaykh: I understand! Even if no one applied, the bribe is not permissible.