What is the ruling on national service, and is it permissible to pay a bribe in order to obtain a national service card?

The questioner: His EminenceThe Shaykh : There is an issue in our country regarding the army or military training. Is it permissible to join or not? We know that if we do not join, we will be subjected to harm. Also, the ruler is a taghut (tyrant). Is he a disbeliever or not? We know that joining the army means showing loyalty to him.

The Shaykh: What do you mean?

The questioner: Loyalty to him.

Another questioner: I mean, joining the army means loyalty to the taghut.

The Shaykh: My brother, we have been asked about this issue many times from all over the world. The premise of the question is wrong. If we imagine a sick man who wants to pray, and he is commanded to pray standing, but he is sick and cannot pray standing, he asks:The Shaykh : He says: "O Shaykh, I am sick and I cannot pray standing." This is a wrong question, because does he imagine thatThe Shaykh : they will tell him to pray standing? He will come back and say, "I cannot pray standing." So they will say, "Then pray sitting, my brother." This is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: Now, your question is one that comes to me often. I say, "My brother, are you asking about voluntary service, which they call enlisting in the army, or are you asking about compulsory service?" He answers, "No, I am asking about compulsory service." Okay, can you not serve? The questioner says to me: "I cannot; I must serve." So what is the point of the question? We know that this is my son who spoke with me just now; he is among those in Damascus for whom compulsory service is mandatory. But in Damascus, and I think in other Arab countries, there is an alternative to compulsory service where you pay money. You do not want to serve your country through compulsory military service, so serve it with money, so they claim. We gathered our money and saved our sons from this compulsory service because we know that whoever joins the army will have his religion and his character corrupted, because it is not a Muslim army. Based on this, we say: Does your question concern compulsory service or voluntary service? If your question concerns compulsory service, we say this question has no meaning and no point, because you have no choice but to serve against your will. However, there is a legal way out in some countries, as I mentioned to you just now, which is to buy your freedom with money; you pay. But this system may not exist here. If so, another solution comes: Can you emigrate from that country to another Islamic country, as we said to that Muslim residing in America, within your hearing? Can you emigrate from this country that will force you into this compulsory military service, which corrupts religion and character? Either you are able to do so, and it is said to you, "Emigrate," or you are not able, and I say to you, your question is not applicable, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. This is my answer. Do you have anything else regarding this question and answer?

The questioner: Is it permissible, for example, to pay a bribe

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner: to escape from ... .

The Shaykh : I did not understand?

The questioner: I mean, approximately, some scholars have permitted paying a bribe to escape from the army.

The Shaykh: No, a bribe is not permissible. Either it is something official, as we said, or as for the bribe, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: But better than this is to emigrate to another Islamic country.

The questioner: If we all emigrate ... .

The Shaykh : How?

Another questioner: If every one of the brothers there thinks that he will emigrate, the field there will remain empty. What will happen?

The Shaykh: The field will remain empty from what?

The questioner: From the perspective of da'wah (calling to Islam).

The Shaykh: Have you not read the saying of Allah the Exalted: You are now saving yourself, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So it is wrong today for a person to burn himself for the sake of others. This is not Islam. But if you are able to stand firm in your religion and your character, and strive in the path of Allah and resist this, yes, that is the work. But to burn yourself for the sake of others, as it is said:
"Sa'd drove them in, and Sa'd was wrapped up. This is not, O Sa'd, how camels are driven in."
It is not permissible for a Muslim, in the name of da'wah, to contradict da'wah. How can the caller justify for himself a forbidden bribe, which is explicitly forbidden in the Book and the Sunnah? This is not permissible. And now we suffice with this much, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Abu Layli: If there is room, insha'Allah, another time.

The Shaykh : If Allah wills.

The questioner: Today we return, insha'Allah.
Abu Layli:The Shaykh : Busy tomorrow and the day after.

The questioner : ... If Allah wills.