What can a muslim do where corruption is a way of life even for essential things?

Question

My friend comes from a country where you have to *bribe* the tax department just so that they accept your tax forms. If they don't accept the tax forms you pay a fine, so they say you either pay the fine (even though you're not even late) or pay a small bribe. You can't get your drivers license unless you bribe your instructor. If you don't bribe the border guard, they won't let you through. If you complain to the police, you might get punished because even they're corrupt.

Is it ok for a muslim just pay the bribe if it's out of compulsion?

Answer 1

thats true and it happens in a lot of countries.

Answer 2

Corruption is rampant in most countries and in some you have to pay to live and Muslims are no exception. Either pay or perish and I do not think it as haram.  In some cases you even have to pay bribe to the corrupt officials to get the dead body of your loved ones from the mortuary to perform the last rites.  

Answer 3

Ahhh...those wonderful "Islamic lands". Pay it...what choice is there? And, if this person moves to the West to escape such things then please tell them to appreciate the opportunity once they get there.

Answer 4

what country is it?

a bribe is always a bribe...

Answer 5

Try my best to correct the situation and help those which i can help without bribe.

Answer 6

i just give, good for them, make things easy for you also. Why question when they can process your documents fast

Answer 7

I would try to move out of the country.  Sounds like typical middle east/southeast asia drama.  Also if it makes things easier then i would just pay the bribe.  B/c in the koran it does not state that you should not pay a bribe in order to make your life easier.

Answer 8

Assalamu Alaikum,

I was in similar situation in my home country 40 years ago. My salary at government job was too low. I lived in another city, went to college in evening, worked full time in day time. Though I lived on bare minimum, I was able to give only Rs.50.00  out of Rs150.00 (salary) to my mother.  One day my father who was police man 60 yrs ago in India said to me to work in Excise, Public Works Department or Banks where I can make extra bribe income, so we can live little better.  I was religious from childhood having memorized 4 Juz of Quran.  I replied to my father,"I will never do haram work, no matter how poor I live".  My father got very mad at me, yelled at me some and left home. Soon an unknown person told me that there is an opening

in British Council and you should apply for job there. I filled the applicaion. Two weaks later a British Chief Librarian gave six candidates typing and general knowledge test and selected me for the job. My salary doubled from Rs.150.00 to Rs.300  in 1965.  I was able to give only Rs.50.00 before but now I started giving my mother Rs.150.00 per month.  In next five years I was married and now I had to support two families.  It  was very hard. I didn't have Rs.5.00 at the end of month.  My wife used to save the change. She would give me bu fair to go to office out of that change in the last weak of month.

One day a man told me in summer months that you will leave this country next year in the first weak of September.  I said are you joking with me.  I said I have not bought one shalwar kameez  to my wife since I got married. three years ago. I am so poor.  I can't even go any where on vacation. You are putting impossible thoughts in my mind.. He answered, if you are still here after the first of september passes next year, you come and tell me.  Soon a Professor of my college said to my you should go to USA and walked away.  Few weaks later a relative of mine visited  my city and stayed with me overnight.  He said before we went to sleep, you should go to America.  I said uncle how can I go any where, I don't have even air fare of America.  He said, my best friend is very wealthy, He sent our one boy to USA before. I am sure when I will talk to him about you, he will give you air fare.  I felt Allah want me to leave this country so  I can retire my father and educate my younger brothers.  So I wrote to few US universities for admission to study for MS in Library  Science. I got accepted by one university in USA. It was extremely difficult those days even to get Inernational Passport  but at every step I found unknown people who got me passport in three days. I got visa in one hour time in US Embassy.  I  received positive response from my cousin brother who already was working as an Aeronautical Engineer in Boeing for loaning me the tuition fee. My six uncles collected Rs.500.00 each, I bought air ticket and left for USA on 3rd day of September 1970.

Alhamdu Lillah in one year I completed my MS in USA, got employed and soon retired my father from selling fruits on wheel cart  by sending him five times more than I gave him before every month. I helped my family until my one brother graduated from Medical college and got employed and other brother did his B.Sc and got employed. Ten more years later, I got them settled in USA also.

From my story I mean to say  if one has will to stay on the path of Allah and intentions are good, Allah helps him every step of the way. People were shocked to know when I flew to America  that the son of a  fruit seller on cart  has gone to America. Lots of them did not believe when they heard about me.

If one believes in Allah and follows his teachings on every step, Allah sends people to help him amazing way.  I say  if you can't make it in your corrupt country,  ask help of Allah with a goog purpose and plan and seek His help to get out of there. He will help you  InshaAllah. .

May Allah guide us all on to the right path of Islam.