In Islam, bribery is all that is proposed in order to obtain the invalidity of what is right or to approve the wrong action.
Not only is it illegal, it is a major grave sin, as Allah The Almighty 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]. Ath-Thahabi may Allah have mercy upon him commented that, “or send it [in bribery] to the rulers”, means: do not buy them off with this wealth or induce them to confer to you the rights of others, while knowing of its impermissibility.
Those who take bribes, of course, consuming an ill-gotten gain, and are extremely dispraised and defamed by Allah The Almighty, who Says (what means), {And you see many of them hastening into sin and aggression and the devouring of [what is] unlawful. How wretched is what they have been doing.} [Quran 5:62]
Bribery leads to a curse:
When bribery becomes rampant in societies, it results in the loss of rights and the prevalence of injustice and corruption. That is why, as ‘Abdullah ibn Amr may Allah be pleased with him narrates, the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) “cursed the one who offers bribes and the one who accepts them”. [At-Tirmithi and Abu Dawood, Albani classified at as Sahih]
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On another occasion, a person who the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed to collect Zakah (obligatory alms tax) came, and said, “This is for you and this was given to me as a present.” So, to clarify the punishment of a person who takes bribes, the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) ascended the pulpit and said, “What about a collector whom I give an assignment but [he later] says: ‘This is for you and this has been given to me as a gift’? Why did he not remain in the house of his father or mother, and observe whether gifts would have still been presented to him or not? I swear by Him in Whose Hand the life of Muhammad is, any one of you will not take anything from [such kinds of gifts] but will then bring it on the Day of Judgment, carrying on his neck [its like, whether it is] a grunting camel, a mooing camel or a bleating ewe.” Therefore, whoever indulges in bribery will bear a great load of sin on his or her neck and will be questioned about it on the Day of Resurrection.
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You should be aware that the ban on taking bribery is categorical. As for one who offers it, there are some details involved Obviously, a person is not allowed to pay someone to keep someone’s right or wrong him or her. However, if a person is forced to offer any incentives as a last resort in order to obtain a right of his or hers, or to ward off injustice, then that act becomes permitted.
The difference between a bribe and a gift
Even if they seem similar, the decisive difference between a bribe and a gift is intention. Bribery is usually granted to block the rights of others or to receive what a person does not deserve. On the other hand, the intention to provide a gift is to receive friendliness, acquaintances, and goodwill.
Evil consequences of bribery:
Finally, among the major harms and corruption caused by bribery are the following:
- It angers Allah The Almighty and subjects those involved to His torment and curse.
- It exposes the one who bribes to punishment on the Day of Judgment, when his or her hands will be tied together and he or she will be thrown into Hell.
- It corrupts the society, from the top level, all the way down, including the rulers and their subjects.
- It undermines the rights of the weak and the wronged people.