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Fatwa CenterPursuing sinful means to get work
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. My question is about the legality of getting employed by means other than formal requirements. Here in Ethiopia, most of the time, individuals get valuable government jobs by means of kinship, political background, or something similar. Even if there are formal vacancies, one should use an informal method in order to succeed. Some try to cheat the exam by using an insider, and some people prefer other methods, this is a trend. I still think that there are no excuses for getting involved in such things. So please let me know if there is anything wrong with it. Thank you for your help. May Allaah reward you.
Answer
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, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The dishonest tricks, cheating, fraud, and sinful intercessions done by people to gain what they are not entitled to receive are all prohibited by the sharee'ah. The fact that many people resort to such sinful means does not make it allowable for others to follow in their example and do the same just to cope with them. Indeed, there are many lawful means for those who keenly and sincerely seek after them. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]
Abu Umaamah 
narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, said, "The Holy Spirit (Archangel Jibreel [Gabriel]) has inspired me that no soul will die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full; so fear Allaah and seek provision through good means, and let not delay of provision lead you to attain it by disobeying Allaah. For what is with Allaah is not attained except through obeying Him." [Abu Nuʻaym - Al-Albaani graded it saheeh (sound)]
Al-Munaawi wrote, “The hadeeth reads, 'So fear Allaah.' It means, 'Place your trust in His promise;' however, he enjoined us to seek after the worldly provisions through lawful means as an act of worship. The hadeeth goes on, 'seek provision through good means,' i.e. lawful, decent means, without being desperately eager to attain provisions at any cost or attempt to obtain them through prohibited or doubtful means.” [Faydh Al-Qadeer]
Allaah knows best.
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