What is the ruling on paying a sum of money to an official in charge of an auction in exchange for providing the buyer with the last price reached in the auction, so that the buyer can bid on it and ensure the auction is awarded to him?

Informing someone of the latest bid in an auction is a betrayal and a forbidden bribe, for bribery is among the grave sins, as stated in the Hadith: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the briber and the bribed." Furthermore, the conditions of the auction must be adhered to if bids are submitted in sealed envelopes, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Muslims are bound by their conditions."