The Prohibition of a Gift from an Employee to His Superior
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Is it permissible for an employee to give a gift to his superior?
A gift from an employee to his superior is not permissible; because, as you know, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent 'Abdullah ibn al-Lutbiyah to collect the alms,So he brought the alms and said: and he said, "This is for you, and this is a gift for me,"So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon and said: (What is the matter with a man whom we appoint to a position, who then comes to us and says: "This is for me and this is for you"? Why does he not sit in his father's and mother's house and see if he is given a gift or not?) Look at the statement. This superior, if he were not a superior, would you give to him? No, you would not give to him.
So, do not give to him.
The questioner: Even if it is a pen?The Shaykh: Even if it is a miswak.
The questioner: What if it is in the context of da'wah (calling to Islam)?The Shaykh: No, it is not in the context of da'wah. Da'wah is going to the mosque. Because a gift compels a person against his will. If you give a gift to the superior, you want him in the future to favor you, overlook your shortcomings, and grant you a dispensation when there is no dispensation. A gift forces a person to favor his companion.
If I give you a pen or something other than a pen, do you not look at me?The questioner: Yes.
The questioner: So how is it done for the superior?The Shaykh: Yes, he returns it.
The questioner: Even after a year.
The Shaykh: If a year passes, perhaps this person is dismissed and the matter ends.
And I swear by Allah, in truth, I am addressing both the superior and the subordinate. The subordinate does not give a gift, and the superior does not accept it.
A gift from an employee to his superior is not permissible; because, as you know, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent 'Abdullah ibn al-Lutbiyah to collect the alms,So he brought the alms and said: and he said, "This is for you, and this is a gift for me,"So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon and said: (What is the matter with a man whom we appoint to a position, who then comes to us and says: "This is for me and this is for you"? Why does he not sit in his father's and mother's house and see if he is given a gift or not?) Look at the statement. This superior, if he were not a superior, would you give to him? No, you would not give to him.
So, do not give to him.
The questioner: Even if it is a pen?The Shaykh: Even if it is a miswak.
The questioner: What if it is in the context of da'wah (calling to Islam)?The Shaykh: No, it is not in the context of da'wah. Da'wah is going to the mosque. Because a gift compels a person against his will. If you give a gift to the superior, you want him in the future to favor you, overlook your shortcomings, and grant you a dispensation when there is no dispensation. A gift forces a person to favor his companion.
If I give you a pen or something other than a pen, do you not look at me?The questioner: Yes.
The questioner: So how is it done for the superior?The Shaykh: Yes, he returns it.
The questioner: Even after a year.
The Shaykh: If a year passes, perhaps this person is dismissed and the matter ends.
And I swear by Allah, in truth, I am addressing both the superior and the subordinate. The subordinate does not give a gift, and the superior does not accept it.