A man has several numbers for assigning work locations and asks for money in exchange for assignment to a specific location; what is the ruling on that money?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers.
The Shaykh : O Allah, send peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah.
The questioner : Your Eminence, I have a question to convey on behalf of a colleague in Riyadh: This man works in one of the military sectors, and he has vacated several numbers in this same sector. But in the most accurate sense, as you say: here in this area of Riyadh, the distances are far from one neighborhood to another, and there are numbers for which there are several applications. They want these numbers. The job itself is the same, but the distance for these numbers would be closer to this person if he moved to that location, making it closer to his workplace and more comfortable for him than the work he is currently assigned to. It is the same job, but with more ease. And he cannot get this number unless he requests it from the person with the authority who holds the number, and pays a sum of money amounting to fifty thousand riyals. Is it permissible for him to pay this amount to get this number, knowing that there are people who have applications for this same number, but he refuses and insists on this number and others until he receives this money in exchange?
The Shaykh : Yes, I say there is nothing wrong with this work, provided that he keeps the money he gives him, and then informs the responsible authorities so that they may punish this man, whom we consider to be one who eats bribes and betrays his ruler. For it is obligatory for the one entrusted with such matters to look at what is best for the work, regardless of so-and-so, and not to favor anyone for his closeness, nor anyone for his bribe, nor anyone for his poverty, but rather to look at the interest of the work. If this man is able to write down hidden details regarding the bribe he gives, or for example transfer the check, then there is no harm, but on the condition that he brings the matter to the official above the one to whom the authority was entrusted, so that he may be punished and taste his retribution.
As for if he is not able to do this, then it is not permissible for him to give the bribe. Yes.
The questioner : ... there are applicants for the numbers.
The Shaykh : I understand, even if no one has applied, the bribe is not permissible.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers.
The Shaykh : O Allah, send peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah.
The questioner : Your Eminence, I have a question to convey on behalf of a colleague in Riyadh: This man works in one of the military sectors, and he has vacated several numbers in this same sector. But in the most accurate sense, as you say: here in this area of Riyadh, the distances are far from one neighborhood to another, and there are numbers for which there are several applications. They want these numbers. The job itself is the same, but the distance for these numbers would be closer to this person if he moved to that location, making it closer to his workplace and more comfortable for him than the work he is currently assigned to. It is the same job, but with more ease. And he cannot get this number unless he requests it from the person with the authority who holds the number, and pays a sum of money amounting to fifty thousand riyals. Is it permissible for him to pay this amount to get this number, knowing that there are people who have applications for this same number, but he refuses and insists on this number and others until he receives this money in exchange?
The Shaykh : Yes, I say there is nothing wrong with this work, provided that he keeps the money he gives him, and then informs the responsible authorities so that they may punish this man, whom we consider to be one who eats bribes and betrays his ruler. For it is obligatory for the one entrusted with such matters to look at what is best for the work, regardless of so-and-so, and not to favor anyone for his closeness, nor anyone for his bribe, nor anyone for his poverty, but rather to look at the interest of the work. If this man is able to write down hidden details regarding the bribe he gives, or for example transfer the check, then there is no harm, but on the condition that he brings the matter to the official above the one to whom the authority was entrusted, so that he may be punished and taste his retribution.
As for if he is not able to do this, then it is not permissible for him to give the bribe. Yes.
The questioner : ... there are applicants for the numbers.
The Shaykh : I understand, even if no one has applied, the bribe is not permissible.