What is the religious ruling on paying a sum of money to a government employee to turn a blind eye to a legal violation (building without a permit), in order to avoid another, undesirable solution?
Bribery is one of the gravest sins, as Allah Almighty says: "And do not consume your property among yourselves wrongfully, nor hand it over to the authorities to consume a portion of the property of others sinfully, while you know." And according to the : "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed the briber and the bribed." What a person gives to obtain his right or to ward off injustice is not considered prohibited bribery; rather, it is what is given to uphold falsehood or invalidate truth. It was narrated that Ibn Mas'ud gave two dinars until he was released. It is advisable to consult scholars to examine the situation and determine whether the amount paid is prohibited bribery or not.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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