Search In Fatwa

Distancing oneself is a means to forbid evil

Question

What is the ruling on fellow Muslims who deal with bribes? Is it better to abandon them?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Giving and taking bribes is prohibited. If someone has friends or neighbours who deal in bribery, he should not forsake them; rather, he should remain close to them so that he can advise and educate them about the Sharee‘ah ruling on this. However, it is better to forsake them if doing so will make them stop dealing in bribery. It was narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) ordered anyone who sees an evil act to forbid it with his hand, or with the tongue (by speaking out against it), and if he is unable to do it with his hand or tongue, then he should forbid it in his heart, which is the weakest level of faith. [Muslim]

If this is obligatory on a competent person to forbid evil with his hand while expecting harm or abuse, it is even more obligatory to distance oneself from the evil doers if doing so would reform them.

And Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa