Bribing officials

Q: A question from Baljurashi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The questioner asks: Is it permissible for me to pay a bribe to one of the officials or those in charge who adjudicate cases, such as judges or the heads of committees that inspect lands? Or is it forbidden in the case where a person’s right is not established except through that bribe, and if he does not pay it, his right is lost, but if he pays it, he obtains his right without wronging another person? Is this permissible? And what do we do with the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he said: ?

A: It is not permissible to pay a bribe to any of the officials, whether they are judges, rulers, or committees that adjudicate between people. There is no doubt that this is forbidden and that it is among the major sins, due to the aforementioned hadith. And because it is a means to injustice and the loss of the right of the one who did not pay the bribe.