What is the difference between a bribe and a gift?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Bribery is what a person pays to take what is not rightfully his, or to evade a right due from him, whether it be money or benefit. It is given to a ruler or anyone else who can fulfill the briber's need. As for a gift, it is the payment of money to the recipient as an act of ownership without compensation, intending love, honor, endearment, or reward, and it is not intended to take what is not rightfully the giver's. If a person cannot obtain his right except by paying a bribe, he is permitted to pay it, and the sin is solely upon the recipient.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/19129
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 19129
- 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