FRIDAY SERMON: Bribery – The Termite Eating Away at Humanity and Society

If we have the courage to reject it today, we can safeguard our society tomorrow. This is the path to individual salvation and collective reform.

Muhammad Younis Bhat(Zahid)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Bribery is a silent yet destructive disease. It neither announces its presence nor creates immediate disturbance, but like termites, it gradually eats away at individuals, institutions, and entire societies. When its damage becomes visible, the moral, administrative, and social structure is often already weakened beyond repair.

Bribery is not merely the exchange of money; it is a trade involving conscience, justice, trust, and humanity. It replaces merit with favoritism, honesty with deception, and fairness with exploitation. A society that tolerates bribery ultimately loses its moral direction and collective dignity.

The Islamic Perspective on Bribery

Islam has categorically prohibited bribery and declared it a root cause of social corruption. Allah Almighty states in the Qur’an:

“And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers so that you may wrongfully consume a portion of the wealth of others while you know.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:188)

This verse clearly condemns manipulating authority through wealth to obtain unlawful benefits. Any judgment or advantage secured through bribery is an act of sin and oppression.

Allah Almighty further says:

“They are avid listeners to falsehood and devourers of unlawful gain.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:42)

Classical Qur’anic commentators explain that unlawful gain (suḥt) explicitly includes bribery.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Allah has cursed the one who gives a bribe, the one who takes it, and the one who mediates between them.”
(Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi)

This curse demonstrates that bribery is not only a legal crime but a severe spiritual offense. It destroys faith, corrupts conscience, and violates the rights of others (Huquq al-‘Ibad). As long as these rights remain unfulfilled, even acts of worship are placed at risk.

Renaming Bribery as ‘Commission’

In modern society, particularly in construction projects, development schemes, and government departments, bribery is often disguised under the respectable title of “commission.” Engineers, contractors, and officials sometimes justify it as a professional entitlement.

The difference is clear:

A lawful commission is transparent, contractual, and given for legitimate services.

Bribery is taken to bypass rules, ignore defects, manipulate outcomes, or deprive rightful beneficiaries.

Whenever a commission compromises quality, justice, or accountability, it loses its legitimacy and becomes bribery—regardless of how attractively it is labeled.

Gifts — A Socially Accepted Face of Bribery

Islam encourages gift-giving to strengthen love and goodwill. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Exchange gifts; you will love one another.”

However, when gifts are given to secure favors, influence decisions, or gain unlawful advantages, they cease to be gifts and become bribery.

The Prophet ﷺ once said regarding a government official who accepted gifts:

“Why did he not sit in his father’s or mother’s house to see whether gifts would come to him?”

This Hadith clarifies that gifts given due to one’s official position constitute betrayal and corruption. Islam emphasizes intention, and when intention is corrupt, even a gift becomes a sinful act.

“Tea Money” and Social Normalization of Corruption

Another common disguise of bribery is the phrase “tea money” or “a small favor.” Such expressions are used to minimize the seriousness of the act. In reality, whether it is called tea money, service charges, or goodwill payment, it remains bribery if it is given to influence outcomes or bypass lawful procedures.

The normalization of such practices makes corruption socially acceptable and morally invisible, especially to younger generations.

Non-Monetary Bribery in the Education System

Bribery is not limited to financial transactions. In some unfortunate cases, it appears within educational institutions. Certain teachers—particularly in rural or underprivileged areas—exploit innocent students by indirectly demanding gifts or favors in exchange for passing marks or higher percentages.

Such conduct is a grave betrayal of the teaching profession, which Islam regards as a sacred trust. Teachers are moral guides and spiritual mentors; when education is commercialized, it corrupts students’ character and damages the future of the nation. This form of non-monetary bribery breeds fear, injustice, and moral compromise.

Moral Corruption Begins at Home

Ethical decay often begins within households. Some parents unintentionally train their children in immoral behavior by offering rewards or money in exchange for spying, gossiping, or reporting what relatives say. This practice encourages backbiting, mistrust, and deception at an early age.

When such children grow up, dishonesty feels normal to them. Parents must recognize their responsibility in shaping moral character, as early ethical training determines the future health of society.

Undue Recommendation (Sifarish) — A Hidden Form of Bribery

Recommendation (sifarish) based on merit, honesty, and competence is not objectionable. However, undue sifarish—using influence or pressure to secure benefits for unqualified individuals—is a subtle but dangerous form of bribery.

Such practices deprive deserving individuals of their rights, weaken institutions, and promote incompetence. Islam strongly condemns any recommendation that results in injustice or denial of rightful claims. Undue sifarish erodes trust, efficiency, and moral accountability.

A Message to the General Public

A harsh reality is that bribery is often not demanded—it is voluntarily offered. People present bribes in various forms such as gifts, commissions, tea money, or favors, assuming it will make their work easier.

These actions weaken faith and distort the concept of lawful and unlawful earnings. They also teach future generations that success is achieved through corruption rather than honesty and merit.

Every individual must understand that giving a bribe is as sinful as taking one, regardless of willingness or intention. If society stops promoting this evil from the supply side, corruption will significantly decline.

Suggestions and Preventive Measures

To eliminate bribery, comprehensive reforms are essential:

Ethical education on corruption should be included in secondary and senior secondary curricula.

Religious institutions must actively address bribery through Qur’anic teachings.

Government and private organizations should include anti-corruption modules in orientation programs.

A clear ethical code must be provided to every newly appointed employee before joining.

Community leaders, educators, and media must promote honesty and accountability.

Only sustained moral training and strict accountability can transform bribery from a social norm into a social taboo.

Conclusion

Bribery is not an individual failing but a collective moral crisis. It eats away at justice, faith, and humanity like termites destroying a structure from within. If we have the courage to reject it today, we can safeguard our society tomorrow. This is the path to individual salvation and collective reform.

And Allah knows best

(STRAIGHT TALK COMMUNICATIONS EXCLUSIVE. makahmadina11@gmail.com)