Most-asked question
Is paying a bribe ever permissible?
43 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 4 South African Darul Iftas (Mufti Online, AskImam, Ibn Masood, Azaadville). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“It is not permissible for you to give the employee 100 dollars secretly as this is a bribe which you are giving him for him giving you the deal. Bribery is haraam in Islam. If you give him 100 dollars, you will be assisting him in corruption and you will also be sinful.”
“Bribery is prohibited in Islam. Consider the following hadith: Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr narrates that the Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi Wa sallam, cursed the one who gives bribes and the one who accepts bribes.””
“It was Haraam to pay a bribe and thereby secure the government contract. Both the person that pays the bribe, and the one that receives the bribe, are equally guilty of sin. The consequences of bribery (without a valid reason) is disastrous in the hereafter.”
“Giving or receiving bribes is a major sin for which repentance is obligatory. Fortunately, the Mercy of Allah is vast, and He loves when His servants repent for their sins.”
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- Giving a bribe to secure a business deal Mufti Online · 14 Jul 2025
- Taking A Bribe In Exchange For Letting Goods Out Without Any Payment Azaadville · 24 Aug 2024
- Bribery when there is no way but through it AskImam · 12 Aug 2023
- Purchasing pots at a discounted rate using stickers attained through bribery Ibn Masood · 8 Nov 2022
- Giving a bribe if one cannot receive his right Mufti Online · 13 Oct 2024
- Bribing The Municipality To Secure A Contract Azaadville · 11 Mar 2021
- Paying a bribe to receive due payment - Is this permissible? AskImam · 23 Oct 2020
- Attaining government tender through bribery Ibn Masood · 31 May 2022
- Bribing a person at the airport desk if one's luggage is over the weight limit Mufti Online · 29 Aug 2024
- Giving bribes to pass driving test AskImam · 30 May 2017
- Bribing an official to attain a marriage certificate Ibn Masood · 23 Feb 2022
- Extortion and Bribery Mufti Online · 4 Sep 2012
- Is it allowed to bribe to get a decent job? AskImam · 16 Oct 2014
- Obtaining government contracts through bribery Ibn Masood · 5 Dec 2021
- Accepting a bribe to give a customer a discount Mufti Online · 13 Jul 2025
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