Is it permissible to pay a bribe to a customs officer to escape paying the tax on one's goods?
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The questioner : Regarding the matter of customs and taxes, people have faced a situation, especially with this Gulf crisis, where very large amounts of taxes and customs duties are imposed on them. Some people from outside the circle might come and say to you, "I am willing to reduce it for you to one thousand dinars instead of you paying five thousand dinars, but you give me one thousand dinars or more."
The Shaykh : Despite this, it is not permissible, my brother. This is a bribe; it is not permissible.
The questioner : The question is that some people come and say to you, "My uncle, who is more entitled? The customs duty is religiously forbidden regarding the state's tax, and this is also forbidden now. I mean, some say that since the amount is small, instead of paying five thousand dinars, I pay one thousand or one thousand five hundred dinars."
The Shaykh : Yes, so is he now addressing the issue from the religious aspect or from the financial aspect?
The questioner : From the financial aspect.
The Shaykh : Yes, so what is the benefit of saying that this is forbidden and that is forbidden? There is a difference between the two prohibitions. The prohibition of taxes and customs duties is not something in which any individual of the people has a hand, a role, or a share. As for the second prohibition, he is the cause of it when he gives a bribe to one of the employees and opens the door for employees in general to become accustomed to taking bribes. How great is the difference between a prohibition for which he is not responsible and a prohibition in which he is directly involved! In that case, his status is the status of the one who imposed the taxes in the first place; his status is the same as that person's. Therefore, it is not permissible to justify or legitimize paying a small amount in order to save a large amount of taxes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Even if it is a land of disbelief, a person should be even more cautious regarding his religion so that he does not present a distorted image of the religion he follows, which is Islam. Is the answer clear?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : Despite this, it is not permissible, my brother. This is a bribe; it is not permissible.
The questioner : The question is that some people come and say to you, "My uncle, who is more entitled? The customs duty is religiously forbidden regarding the state's tax, and this is also forbidden now. I mean, some say that since the amount is small, instead of paying five thousand dinars, I pay one thousand or one thousand five hundred dinars."
The Shaykh : Yes, so is he now addressing the issue from the religious aspect or from the financial aspect?
The questioner : From the financial aspect.
The Shaykh : Yes, so what is the benefit of saying that this is forbidden and that is forbidden? There is a difference between the two prohibitions. The prohibition of taxes and customs duties is not something in which any individual of the people has a hand, a role, or a share. As for the second prohibition, he is the cause of it when he gives a bribe to one of the employees and opens the door for employees in general to become accustomed to taking bribes. How great is the difference between a prohibition for which he is not responsible and a prohibition in which he is directly involved! In that case, his status is the status of the one who imposed the taxes in the first place; his status is the same as that person's. Therefore, it is not permissible to justify or legitimize paying a small amount in order to save a large amount of taxes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Even if it is a land of disbelief, a person should be even more cautious regarding his religion so that he does not present a distorted image of the religion he follows, which is Islam. Is the answer clear?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.