What is the ruling on obtaining important economic information about competing companies from a government employee who possesses this information, knowing that the employee did not request financial compensation but the company frequently pays him a sum of money?

The answer involves two matters:

First: It is not permissible for an employee to give out information about their work if their employer prohibits it, or if the information is considered a company secret. This is because it violates conditions and discloses secrets, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "When a man says something and then looks around, it is a trust." And, "He has no faith who has no trust, and he has no religion who has no covenant."

Second: It is not permissible to offer money to this employee, as it constitutes bribery. This is based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the briber, the bribed, and the intermediary."