The ruling on bribery

Question

Question: In the city of Bombay, no matter what kind of house or shop it is, it cannot be obtained without key money paid for the right of tenancy; and no government matter, however small — for example, obtaining a licence for something or getting a house-building plan approved by the municipality — gets done without bribing the officials. I have read in books that taking and giving key money, and giving and taking bribes, is haram.

Answer

Giving and taking a bribe (rishwa) is haram. However, to ward off injustice and to obtain one’s own right, there is latitude to give a bribe under compulsion. In that case only the one who takes the bribe will be sinful.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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