Ruling on Giving and Taking Bribes
Source: Fatawa Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri❀ Question:
What is the ruling on giving and taking bribes?
❀ Answer:
- Bribery is haram — both giving and taking.
- Giving something to deprive someone else of his right is bribery.
- If one gives something only to secure his own legitimate right, then giving is permissible, but taking remains impermissible.
❀ Imam Muhammad ibn Sīrīn (رح):
كان يكره الرشوة فى الحكم
"He (رح) used to consider it haram to take anything in return for delivering a judgment."
Reference: [طبقات ابن سعد: 202/7، وسنده حسن]
