Bribing an official to attain a marriage certificate
Question
Due to a woman marrying a foreigner, they’ve got to get court married to attain legal documentation. Having the legal paper work in order will be an advantage to them, as they intend having children one day Insha’Allah.
We want to know whether it would be wrong to bribe someone to help them get the certificate without them having to go to church, or will it be permissible for them to go to the church and get married. Also, they read from the Bible at church.
Answer
Court marriages are solemnized at either the Home Affairs or at courts in South Africa. Generally, the marriage officer gives the couple intending marriage a choice as to whether they want the ‘marriage sermon’ to be recited or not. If the couple choose not to have the sermon recited, they simply complete the legal requirements and issue the marriage certificate. We, as Muslims, should request that the legal aspect be completed and the certificate issued. There is no need to go to the church at all, hence, in conclusion, there is no need to bribe officials to attain a marriage certificate.
- Answered by
- Mufti Mohammed Desai
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Ifta Ibn Masood. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.