The Prohibition of Bribery and Its Grave Consequences
The prohibition of bribery is clear in Islam, and the Qur’an and Hadith strongly condemn it. Both taking and giving bribes are haram, and this practice becomes the cause of social evils. Let us now examine this in detail in the light of the Qur’an and Hadith.
Prohibition of Bribery in the Holy Qur’an
Allah Almighty has forbidden consuming wealth through bribery and making unjust decisions:
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [bribes] to the rulers in order that you may consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it to be wrong].”
This verse clearly identifies bribery as a means of consuming wealth through falsehood and strictly forbids it.
Condemnation of Bribery in the Hadith
1. The Curse on the One Who Gives and the One Who Takes a Bribe
The Prophet ﷺ cursed both the one who takes a bribe and the one who gives it:
لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الرَّاشِيَ وَالْمُرْتَشِيَ
“Allah has cursed the one who gives a bribe and the one who takes it.”
This hadith indicates that the exchange of bribes is a most serious sin that brings the curse of Allah.
2. The One Who Takes a Bribe Will Go to Hell
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ، لَا يُبَالِي الْمَرْءُ مَا أَخَذَ، أَمِنَ الْحَلَالِ أَمْ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ”
“There will come a time upon people when a man will not care whether he acquired his wealth from lawful or unlawful means.”
This hadith indicates that the epidemic of bribery and unlawful earnings is among the signs of the Hour, and that this practice leads a person to Hell.
Necessity of Giving a Bribe and Its Ruling
Sometimes people, out of compulsion, give a bribe to obtain their lawful right, because without a bribe their work does not get done. Regarding this, the view of the scholars is that if a person gives a bribe to avoid oppression or to obtain his right, the sin falls upon the one who takes the bribe, but even then this act remains disliked and impermissible.
The Statement of Ibn Taymiyyah
The renowned scholar Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“If a person gives a bribe to avoid oppression, the sin is upon the one who takes the bribe, not upon the one who gives it. But if he is giving it for some unlawful benefit, then both are sinful.”
This statement makes clear that intention plays a great role in giving and taking bribes, yet bribery is in no case a praiseworthy act.
The Bitter Reality of Our Society
Unfortunately, our society has become severely afflicted with the moral evil of bribery. Some of its bitter realities are as follows:
◈ In government offices, even lawful work is not done without a bribe.
◈ Some officials have begun to call bribery “tea-water” or “a gift” and consider it their right.
◈ The poor man’s work does not get done, while the influential person gets even illegal work done.
◈ This curse fuels social injustice, poverty, and corruption.
All these factors are pushing society towards ruin, and the entire system is being affected by it.
Solutions for Eradicating Bribery
To avoid this curse of bribery and to eliminate it, the following measures are necessary:
◈ Complete abstention from bribery: Every individual should refrain from taking and giving bribes, no matter how difficult the situation may be.
◈ Raising a voice within law and society: If work in any department is not being done without a bribe, legal action should be taken against it and a voice should be raised at the social level.
◈ Spreading Islamic teachings: Islamic teachings should be spread as widely as possible to develop the distinction between lawful and unlawful, so that people become aware of the grave sin of bribery.
◈ Promoting a culture of justice and merit: The principles of justice, honesty, and merit should be promoted in society so that no one can benefit through unlawful means.
Conclusion
Bribery is a curse that not only drags the individual into sin but also destroys the entire society. The Qur’an and Hadith strongly condemn it and command us to avoid it. We should abstain from bribery ourselves and raise our voices against this evil in our society so that a pure and just society may be established.
May Allah protect us from a curse like bribery and grant us lawful sustenance. Ameen.
