ALLAH Almighty has established the entire universe upon justice, balance and wisdom. Every part of creation follows a perfect order set by Him. Similarly, the peace, stability and progress of human society depend upon justice, honesty, trust and the protection of people’s rights. When justice becomes weak in a society and decisions are influenced by money, power, or personal connections rather than truth and fairness, corruption spreads. Bribery is one of the most dangerous evils that damages the foundation of a just society. Bribery is not merely a financial transaction. It is an attempt to change what is right, gain unlawful advantage and interfere with the justice that Allah has commanded.
Allah says: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, or send it to the authorities in order that you may consume a portion of the wealth of others in sin, while you know.” (Qur’an 2:188) This verse clearly warns against using money to influence those in authority and obtain benefits through unfair means.
Bribery and loss of trust in Allah: A very concerning attitude in society today is that some people openly take pride in saying, “I got my work done by paying a bribe,” or “Nothing can be achieved without bribery.” This is not only a wrong action; it reflects a dangerous mindset. A believer should have firm faith that ultimate control belongs to Allah. We should make sincere efforts, but we must never adopt unlawful means to achieve our goals. When a person begins to believe that his success depends on bribery rather than Allah’s help and lawful effort, it weakens his trust in Allah’s system of justice. It gives priority to worldly benefit over obedience to Allah. Allah says: “And do not exchange My verses for a small price.” (Qur’an 2:41)
And He says: “Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has revealed of the Book and exchange it for a small price — they consume nothing but fire into their bellies.” (Qur’an 2:174) These verses teach us that sacrificing principles and divine guidance for temporary worldly benefits leads to great loss.
Bribery destroys justice: The greatest harm of bribery is that it deprives deserving people of their rights. When money becomes more powerful than justice, those who can pay gain advantages, while the poor and vulnerable suffer the most. A society affected by bribery gradually loses trust in its institutions. People begin to feel that honesty, ability and hard work are not enough and that success depends on money and connections. This creates frustration and inequality between different sections of society. It weakens the belief that everyone will receive fair treatment.
Bribery kills the spirit of hard work: Allah has encouraged human beings to work hard, earn through lawful means and develop their abilities. However, bribery teaches people to look for shortcuts. When individuals believe that money can solve every problem, they stop valuing effort, honesty and merit. Over time, capable and hardworking people lose motivation, while those who rely on unfair methods move ahead. No nation can truly progress when corruption replaces competence and dishonesty replaces dedication.
Both giving and taking bribes are wrong: Some people think that only the person who accepts a bribe is guilty. However, the person who offers a bribe also becomes part of this corrupt system because he supports and encourages injustice. The Prophet Muhammad said: “Allah has cursed the one who gives a bribe and the one who takes a bribe.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud) Islam closes every door that leads to corruption because justice cannot survive where bribery becomes normal.
The moral weakness behind bribery: Bribery is often the result of deeper moral problems: greed, selfishness, excessive love of worldly gains and forgetting accountability before Allah. A person may gain a temporary advantage through bribery, but he forgets that every action will be brought before Allah for judgment. Allah says: “And whoever fears Allah — He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.” (Qur’an 65:2–3) This verse gives hope that those who choose the right path and remain mindful of Allah will receive His help and unexpected ease.
Building a just society: Islam teaches a society where every person receives his rights fairly, where positions of responsibility are treated as a trust and where decisions are based on truth and justice rather than wealth or influence. The removal of bribery requires not only strong laws but also sincere reform of hearts. People must develop awareness that they are accountable before Allah for every action. True success is not achieving our goals through any means possible. True success is choosing honesty, patience, lawful methods and protecting the rights of others while seeking the pleasure of Allah. May Allah guide us towards honesty, justice, lawful earnings and respect for the rights of others.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in FCA (Eng & Wales)
