Punishment for Bribery

18-6-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the punishment for corruption both, giving bribes and taking bribes?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The punishment for one who takes bribery, one who gives it, and one who acts as intermediary between them is a curse and expulsion from the mercy of Allah by the tongue of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) cursed the bribe giver, its taker and the one who acts as intermediary between them. [Ahmad]

Bribery is one of the major sins. It is condemned and forbidden in the Book of Allah. Allah Says (what means): {[They are] avid listeners to falsehood, devourers of [what is] unlawful.} [Quran 5:42]
The scholars of Tafseer said, “{devourers of [what is] unlawful.}, refers to bribery.”
Allah also Says (what means): {And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].} [Quran 2:188]
In short, the punishment of the bribe-taker, the bribe-giver and the intermediary between them is great, if they do not repent to Allah from it. This is because bribery causes much corruption in the society.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 293908, 121051, and 83777.
Allah knows best.

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