What is the ruling on gift money to fulfill certain needs from people in positions of authority, such as facilitating certain customs matters at the airport?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: For example, there are disbelievers who are your classmates. When you arrive at the airport, they facilitate the customs matters for you, and in return you buy them a gift. Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : What do you say if he were a Muslim?
The questioner : If he were a Muslim, you may reward him for this.
The Shaykh : And the disbeliever?
The questioner : I ask, I do not know.
The Shaykh :Sunan Abi Dawud 1672Sahih (Al-Albani), but is it permissible for a person to reward government workers or give them gifts, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ?
It is said: If it is to ward off their harm, and their harm cannot be averted except by giving them, then there is no harm, even if he is a Muslim. For example, if we assume that you give them money so that they will stop taking the customs fee, there is no harm, because this is repelling injustice. Although the best in this case is to submit, but since there is no confrontation involved, it became permissible. However, if you confront them and say: I will not give you, you are oppressors, and the Muslim's wealth is respected, then this is forbidden for you, because it is obligatory for the believer to hear and obey, even if his back is struck and his wealth is taken. But in the matter of defending oneself with money, there is no harm.
The Shaykh : What do you say if he were a Muslim?
The questioner : If he were a Muslim, you may reward him for this.
The Shaykh : And the disbeliever?
The questioner : I ask, I do not know.
The Shaykh :
if anyone does you a kindness, recompense him
من صنع إليكم معروفاً فكافئوهThe gifts of workers are embezzlement
هدايا العمال غلولIt is said: If it is to ward off their harm, and their harm cannot be averted except by giving them, then there is no harm, even if he is a Muslim. For example, if we assume that you give them money so that they will stop taking the customs fee, there is no harm, because this is repelling injustice. Although the best in this case is to submit, but since there is no confrontation involved, it became permissible. However, if you confront them and say: I will not give you, you are oppressors, and the Muslim's wealth is respected, then this is forbidden for you, because it is obligatory for the believer to hear and obey, even if his back is struck and his wealth is taken. But in the matter of defending oneself with money, there is no harm.