Does the work of a pharmacist as a promotional representative, which requires giving doctors free samples of medications to persuade them to prescribe the drug to the patient, constitute a forbidden bribe that falls under the scope of "Allah has cursed the one who gives and the one who takes a bribe"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is permissible to work as a pharmaceutical sales representative, unless the job involves a Shari'ah-prohibited matter, such as the medications having side effects not mentioned in the leaflets, or promoting them with untrue descriptions. As for gifting samples to doctors, if the purpose is to test the medication to ascertain its efficacy, then there is no harm. Otherwise, it is a forbidden bribe that involves deceiving and betraying patients.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/31603
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 31603
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy