Connect to the favours of Allah

As you re-enter each day from the slumber of capricious sleep,  thank allah for giving you life so generously. You have to be wise, knowing that obeying allah’s laws directly connects to his favors and blessings. Ever do good. But as life waits on you, it isn’t wise to test it’s patience. Always pray. Prayers make the crooked way straight and the rough road smooth. May allah always and forever keep his eyes of mercy upon you and all yours.

Happy jumaat!   —Adewale Adeeyo, OON

Halal & Haram

Offering or accepting bribes is haram

Giving bribe to a qaadi or judge to pervert the cause of justice or to make a false claim succeed is a sin, because it leads to oppression and injustice against another person, and it spreads corruption. Allah says:

“And eat up not one another’s property unjustly, not give bribery to the rulers that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully.” (Q2:188)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Allah has cursed those who give and accept bribes with regard to judging.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 2/387; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5069).

The clampdown on judges by President Buhari-led government is one of the best things to have happened in this country.  No doubt, if the dispensation of justice is seen to be fair and just, it will become a pivot to which other areas of our endeavour will thrive.

Bribery is so widespread nowadays that it is more of a source of income than the regular salary for some workers. Some companies even include bribes as a factor in their budgets, under a variety of headings, and some dealings cannot begin or end without the payment of a bribe. Much harm is caused to the poor and many safeguards are broken because of bribes.

Bribery is a cause of corruption whereby employees act against their employers, and one can only get good service if one pays a bribe as quick as possible while the person who refuses to pay will get either get the service late or not get it at all. Bribery has corrupted the society, the services are only meant for the highest bidder.  Brethren, there is a curse of Allah on those who offer and take bribes. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said:

‘The curse of Allah be upon the one who gives a bribe and the one who accepts it.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2313; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5114). The society will be better if we all refrain from offering or accepting bribes.