How can one ascertain the lawfulness (halal) or unlawfulness (haram) of money earned through a monthly salary and the printing of materials, when it is unknown whether these materials are in defense of truth or falsehood, especially given that half of them are known to defend falsehood? And is it permissible to offer a bribe to escape this situation?

We previously answered that it is not permissible to work in a law firm that occasionally defends criminals. If you do work there, what is taken for defending the truth is permissible, and what is taken for defending falsehood is unlawful (haram) and must be disposed of in charitable causes. You must cease working at the firm if you cannot avoid defending falsehood.

As for distinguishing between lawful and unlawful earnings, this is done by exercising ijtihad (independent reasoning) to determine the proportion of defending truth versus falsehood. Unlawful money must be disposed of by spending it on the poor, the needy, and public welfare.

Bribery, if it is to invalidate a right or establish a falsehood, is darkness upon darkness. However, if it is to remove injustice, then it must be given from your lawful wealth.