Fatwa #2772311 December 2013Pakistan
If my father who is in prestigious position receives gifts would they be considered bribes?
Question
my father has a prestigious position in an organization and was wondering if he recieves gifts such as valuables or food items is it permissible for him to accept, if those gifts are given out of goodwill and not out of a bad intention or as a bribe. Of course the niyat of a person is only known by Allah but if a person would like to thank him or as a friendly gesture gives him a gift is this halal?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
Wherever there is a strong doubt of bribery or any ulterior motive in a gift, one should not accept it.[1] However, if he were to accept it, the gift will be halāl.
And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best
Zameelur Rahman
Student Darul Iftaa
UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] اگر لوگ مصدق يا كسى آفسر كو كوئى ہدیہ دے رہیں تو اس میں رشوت كا غالب گمان ہے، اس لئے جہاں اس بات كا گمان ہوں وہاں ہديہ كو رد كردينا درست ہوگا (انعام الباري، مكتبة الحراء، ج٧ ص٢٩٣)
وفيه كراهية قبول هدية طالب العناية، ويدخل في معنى ذلك كراهة هدية المديان والمقارض وكل من هديته بسبب علة (عمدة القاري، المكتبة التوفيقية، ج١١ ص٧٠)