What is the difference between a bribe and a connection, and what is their ruling?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : May the Shaykh please clarify for us the difference between a connection and a bribe.
The Shaykh : A connection and a bribe. A bribe is giving money to achieve the invalidation of what is obligatory upon one, or to do what is forbidden upon one. This is a bribe. For example, a person gives a judge money or gifts him a car so that he rules in his favor; this is forbidden. Or a person gives a bribe to someone so that he is preferred for a job over so-and-so; this is also a forbidden bribe because he achieved by it the doing of what is forbidden upon him. As for the one who gives money to achieve a right that belongs to him, he is excused, and the sin is upon the one who takes this money. An example of this is if a person is entitled to a job and his turn has come, but the person in charge of jobs delays him, delays him, delays him. In this case, it is permissible for him to give him money to take what he is entitled to, and the sin is upon whom? The sin is upon the taker.
The Shaykh : A connection and a bribe. A bribe is giving money to achieve the invalidation of what is obligatory upon one, or to do what is forbidden upon one. This is a bribe. For example, a person gives a judge money or gifts him a car so that he rules in his favor; this is forbidden. Or a person gives a bribe to someone so that he is preferred for a job over so-and-so; this is also a forbidden bribe because he achieved by it the doing of what is forbidden upon him. As for the one who gives money to achieve a right that belongs to him, he is excused, and the sin is upon the one who takes this money. An example of this is if a person is entitled to a job and his turn has come, but the person in charge of jobs delays him, delays him, delays him. In this case, it is permissible for him to give him money to take what he is entitled to, and the sin is upon whom? The sin is upon the taker.