Islamic Economics Centre (DaruliftaAhlesunnat)
(Dawateislami -Darulifta Ahle Sunnat)
Question
What do the scholars of Islam say regarding the following issue: an individual, under the influence of his Baser-self and Satan, has taken money as a bribe and now wishes to seek forgiveness for this sin. Can the bribe money be given as charity to a Sharee Faqeer (i.e. a poor individual according to Shariah)?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
Taking a bribe is Haram and it leads one to Hell. Also, it must be known that the bribe-taker does not become the owner of the bribe money. The first obligation upon the bribe-taker is to sincerely repent from this sin. Then, he must return the bribe money to the rightful owners. If the owners are no longer alive, it should be returned to their heirs. If the original owner is present, giving the bribe money to a Sharee’ faqeer (i.e. a poor person according to Shariah) instead of returning it to the owner will not absolve the bribe-taker of his responsibility. However, if the original owner and his heirs cannot be located despite exhaustive efforts, and he does not have any hope of finding them in future as well, only then may the money be given as charity to a Sharee Faqeer on behalf of the owner. Nonetheless, if the owner or his heirs are found later and they do not approve of the charity, the amount must be returned to them.
Allama Shami رحمة الله عليه while explaining the ruling regarding returning the bribe money to its owners states:
ويردونها على اربابها ان عرفوهم والا تصدقوا بها لان سبيل الكسب الخبيث التصدق اذا تعذر الرد على صاحبه
Translation: They should return it to its owners if they are known; otherwise, they should give it in charity. This is because the only way to rid oneself of ill-gotten wealth when returning it to the owner is impossible, is to give it in charity.(Radd-ul-Muhtar with Durr-ul-Mukhtar, Vol. 9, p. 635, published in Peshawar)
While explaining the ruling on bribe money, Imam-e-Ahle-Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمة الله عليه states:
جومال رشوت یاتغنی یاچوری سے حاصل کیا اس پرفرض ہے کہ جس جس سے لیا اُن پر واپس کردے، وہ نہ رہے ہوں اُن کے ورثہ کو دے، پتا نہ چلے تو فقیروں پرتصدق کرے، خریدوفروخت کسی کام میں اُس مال کالگانا حرام قطعی ہے، بغیر صورت مذکورہ کے کوئی طریقہ اس کے وبال سے سبکدوشی کانہیں‘‘۔۔۔
Translation: It is Fardh to return money obtained through bribery, singing, or theft to those from whom it was taken. If they are not alive, it should be given to their heirs. If neither the owner nor the heirs can be identified, it must be given in charity to the poor. It is Haram Al-Qatee (categorically prohibited) to use such money for any transactions, and there is no way to absolve oneself of its burden except through the mentioned methods."
When the original owner is present, it is necessary to return the bribe money to him. Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمة الله عليه while answering the same question also mentions the rationale of it and states:
وذلک لان الحرمۃ فی الرشوۃ وامثالھا لعدم الملک اصلا فھو عندہ کالمغصوب فیجب الرد علی المالک او ورثتہ ما امکن‘‘
Translation: This is because the prohibition in bribery and similar transactions arises due to the lack of rightful ownership. Thus, the bribe money is like misappropriated wealth for the bribe-taker. Therefore, it is wajib upon him to return it to the rightful owner or to his heirs to the best of his ability.(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 23, p. 551, Raza Foundation, Lahore)
Regarding sincere repentance and its conditions, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمة الله عليه states:
’’سچی توبہ اللہ عزوجل نے وہ نفیس شے بنائی ہے کہ ہر گناہ کے ازالے کو کافی ووافی ہے، کوئی گناہ ایسا نہیں کہ سچی توبہ کے بعد باقی رہے یہاں تک کہ شرک وکفر۔ سچی توبہ کے یہ معنی ہیں کہ گناہ پراس لیے کہ وہ اس کے رب عزوجل کی نافرمانی تھی، نادم وپریشان ہو کرفوراً چھوڑ دے اور آئندہ کبھی اس گناہ کے پاس نہ جانے کا سچے دل سے پُورا عزم کرے، جو چارۂ کار اس کی تلافی کا اپنے ہاتھ میں ہوبجا لائےمثلاً نماز روزے کے ترک یا غصب، سرقہ، رشوت، رباسے توبہ کی تو صرف آئندہ کے لیے ان جرائم کا چھوڑ دینا ہی کافی نہیں بلکہ اس کے ساتھ یہ بھی ضرور ہے جو نماز روزے ناغہ کیے ان کی قضا کرے، جو مال جس جس سے چھینا، چرایا، رشوت، سود میں لیا انہیں اور وہ نہ رہے ہوں تو ان کے وارثوں کو واپس کردے یا معاف کرائے، پتا نہ چلے تو اتنا مال تصدق کردے اور دل میں نیت رکھے کہ وہ لوگ جب ملے اگر تصدق پر راضی نہ ہوئے اپنے پاس سے انہیں پھیر دوں گا۔‘‘
Translation: True repentance is a precious thing conferred upon us by Allah Almighty and it is sufficient to erase every sin. Every sin will be removed because of true repentance. Even polytheism and disbelief will be removed. True repentance means feeling remorse and distress for the sin and immediately abandoning it because it is a disobedience to Allah along with a firm intention for never returning to it. Additionally, one must rectify whatever is within his power. So if he has repented from skipping salahs and fasts or from usurping someone’s property, stealing, or taking a bribe or receiving interest, than he not only has to quit all these sins but also has to make up for missed salahs and fast as well and in case of usurping, stealing someone’s property, taking bribe and receiving interest, he has to either return the amount to its rightful owners or their heirs if the owners are missing or request them to forgive him all that money . In case the owner or their heirs cannot be found, then the amount should be given in charity. But one must have the intention that if those people are later found and do not approve of the charity, he will return the amount to them. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 21, p. 121, Raza Foundation, Lahore)
’’جس شخص نے ظلم یا رشوت کے طور پر مال حاصل کیا ہو، مرنے کے بعد اس کا مال ورثہ کو نہ لینا چاہیے کہ یہ مال حرام ہے۔بلکہ ورثہ یہ کریں کہ اگر معلوم ہے کہ یہ مال فلاں کا ہےتو جس سے مورث نے حاصل کیا ہے، اسے واپس دے دیں اور معلوم نہ ہو کہ کس سے لیا ہے توفقراء پر تصدق کردیں کہ ایسے مال کا یہی حکم ہے۔“
Translation: The wealth acquired through oppression or bribery should not be inherited by the heirs after the person's death, as it is Haram wealth. Instead, the heirs should return the money to its rightful owners if they are known. If the owners cannot be identified, the money should be given in charity to the poor, as this is the ruling for such wealth. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Vol. 3, p. 481, Maktaba-tul-Madina, Karachi)
Answered By: Abu Muhammad Mufti Ali Asghar Attari Madani
Ref No: IEC-0193
Date: 07 Shawwal al-Mukarram 1445 AH / 16 April 2024
Translated by Maulana Abdul Wajid Madani
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم