What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding bribery?
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The questioner : This is from Sudan. A Sudanese resident in the Kingdom says in this question: What is the ruling of the Shari'ah, in your view, regarding bribery?
The Shaykh : Bribery is forbidden; indeed, it is among the major sins. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who offers a bribe and the one who accepts it. But what is bribery, first of all, so that we may understand its magnitude and the gravity of its crime, and that its perpetrator is deserving of the curse? Bribery is when one offers money to a ruler to thereby nullify a right or establish a falsehood. This is bribery.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If a person has a case before one of the judges and goes to him with a gift, this is bribery. Likewise, if he conditions upon the people that they give him so much and so much so that he will fulfill their need, this is also bribery.
As for when the bribe is to ward off an injustice, such as a person whom an oppressor wanted to wrong, and he paid him money to be safe from his evil, then this is not bribery, but rather it is self-defense. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Bribery is forbidden; indeed, it is among the major sins. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who offers a bribe and the one who accepts it. But what is bribery, first of all, so that we may understand its magnitude and the gravity of its crime, and that its perpetrator is deserving of the curse? Bribery is when one offers money to a ruler to thereby nullify a right or establish a falsehood. This is bribery.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If a person has a case before one of the judges and goes to him with a gift, this is bribery. Likewise, if he conditions upon the people that they give him so much and so much so that he will fulfill their need, this is also bribery.
As for when the bribe is to ward off an injustice, such as a person whom an oppressor wanted to wrong, and he paid him money to be safe from his evil, then this is not bribery, but rather it is self-defense. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.