Bribery In Islam

Definition of Bribery

A bribe can be considered as a promise in the form of a valuable possession in order to persuade or induce another person to alter their behaviour or planned course of actions. Bribery is simply performing the act of a bribe.

By law in this nation, bribery is a felony and those who commit such a crime are dealt with severely. The punishment for this crime is the accommodation of a jail cell for up to 15 years. In Islam bribery is not only against the law, but considered a sin as well. Those who commit the crime of bribery are cursed by Allah (SWT). However, they are not the only ones punishable for this act of haram, those who accept the bribe as a form of injustice have also committed a sin and their punishment is even graver than those who offer the bribe. Another can also be at risk of the sin of bribery and that is the one who communicates between them during the process. All those who are a part of committing the sin of bribery are expelled from the mercy of Allah (SWT). 

A List of Hadiths Proving Bribery is Haram

Abdullah bin Amr (RA) narrated:

 Allah's Messenger (PBUH) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes bribe.

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:

Allah's Messenger (PBUH) cursed the one who bribes and the one who takes a bribe for judgment

Ahmad narrated from Abu Hurayrah who said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“Allah cursed the briber and bribe-taker in judgement (hukm)”

Ahmad narrated from Tawban who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (saw) cursed the briber, bribe-taker and the mediator meaning the one who walks between the two.”

From Buraydah from the Prophet (SAW):
“Whoever we appointed upon a task and provided sustenance (rizq) for him, then whatever he takes after that is illicit wealth (ghulul)”.



Al-Khateeb extracted in Talkhis Al-Mutashabih from Anas that the Prophet (SAW) said:
“The gifts of governors are (suht).”

A List of Quranic Verses Proving Bribery is Haram

وَلا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقاً مِنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالإِثْمِ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

"And eat up not one another's property unjustly, nor give bribery to the rulers that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully."

(Ayah No. 188, Surah Al-Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Holy Qur'an).

وَمَا آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ رِباً لِيَرْبُوَا فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلا يَرْبُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ

"And that which you give in Riba' (the gifts), in order that it may increase from other people's property, has no increase with Allah."

(Ayah No. 39, Surah Ar-Rūm, Chapter No. 30, Holy Qur'an).

 What is the Effect of Bribery on Society?

All evidence and proofs in the Sunnah clearly indicate that bribery is unlawful in Islam and should not be practiced by Muslims. Bribery is considered a sin in Islam and Allah (swt) will punish any Muslim who gives or takes bribery. The messenger of Allah (pbuh) also stated that there is a difference between gifts and bribery. Gifts are lawful and encouraged in Islam; whereas bribery is unlawful in Islam and should not be confused with gifts.

It is also a sin for a Muslim to witness bribery and not report on it, for it will lead to further consequences and corruption. There are several reasons for why Allah (swt) and the prophet (pbuh) have prohibited bribery taking and giving in Islam.

The following are examples of negative effects that would result from bribery:

-  In general, bribery causes corruption to the society and nation.

- It causes unfairness in society, where one person will feel superior to another.

-bribery causes the people in the society to be incompetent and unwilling to work and strive for the best.

- It also causes people to be selfish and not make any considerations for other people who also need their rights

- leads to dishonesty and lack of trust between people

- creates poor and low quality work

- Causes there to be slow work and delay. That is because the briber might bribe a manager to get a certain task done.

- A person who bribes and makes it a habit will also have an effect on his children and family. Because children take their parents as role models, they will eventually be raised to do the same things that their parents used to do.

-bribery causes some people to gain more than their rights and others to lose their rights.

- It causes business managers/bribe takers to be in dilemma as to whether to bribe or not.

- With bribery, the poor people will become poorer, and the rich will become richer. This causes the gap between the rich and the poor to get bigger.

- It also gets people into the habit of living on harm money and earnings.

- Bribery causes the people of a society to be more prone to bad deeds and forget the commandments of Allah (Swt) and His prohibitions. It spreads the haram in society.