What is the ruling on Hajj as a prize or reward, or through واسطة (with or without money), or through bribery?

The ruling on Hajj, when its expenses are covered by entities and companies in the form of prizes and rewards, is based on the ruling of the means by which the prize was obtained. If it was obtained through a permissible method, then it is permissible for a person to perform Hajj with it, and it fulfills their obligation, even if Hajj was not obligatory upon them and they were not considered capable through this means. There is no disagreement among scholars on this, unless the giver is a son to the recipient. In this case, Hajj becomes obligatory upon the recipient, and they are considered capable according to the Maliki and Shafi'i schools, and this is the apparently preponderant opinion. As for a person spending money or using an intermediary to facilitate Hajj procedures for them, this is permissible as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others, in which case it is prohibited and what was paid is considered a bribe, for which they incur sin. If they perform Hajj, their Hajj is valid despite their committing the sin of bribery and infringing upon the rights of others.