Assalamu Alaikum W.W Dear Brothers in Islam I, I need fatwas following few questions. 1. Is it halal to trade on things that are halal by nature, but made illegal by the government (Non Muslim Gvt ) such as certain type of logging of trees, fragrance etc? 2.Is it Halal to bribe custom officers to smuggle those type good as mention in Q1 to foreign countries for business? 3. or is it Halal to bribe custom officers to reduce tariff or avoid detail investigation of items or to avoid any delay, on the basis that officers act discriminative against Muslim being minority and they are more lenient with majority community and thus, it puts Muslim merchants at disadvantage when it come to trade? Also, Would appreciate if you could provide your opinion on not adhering or breaching of trade rules set by any government. Many thanks for your time and efforts Jazakallah Kheir. Mohamad Rizwan- Sri Lanka

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

A Muslim who lives in a non-Muslim country should be a living example of Islam in his honesty and loyalty, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to violate the laws of those countries that regulate the lives of people and regulate their affairs, as he has pledged his commitment to respect them and not violate them unless such laws requires one to do what is forbidden. Cheating and evasion is forbidden for a Muslim whether he is in a Muslim or non-Muslim country.

Also, a Muslim should not expose himself to harm and damage, or expose his money to be lost or perished, as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "A believer should not humiliate himself." They (the Companions) asked: "How would he humiliate himself?" He said: "By exposing himself to an affliction which he cannot endure." [Ahmad]

Therefore, it is not permissible to cheat or evade or bribe unless it is to repel harm or injustice or to obtain a right which one cannot obtain except by doing that as underlined in Fataawa 157533and 145483. This is in general, but each case may have a special ruling with consideration for its circumstances. Hence, it is better to orally ask the scholars who are familiar with those circumstances.

Allaah Knows best.