Egypt’s Dar Al-Iftaa clarified that receiving money from citizens to speed up administrative services or offer special treatment is strictly prohibited in Islam, classifying it as bribery, which the religion firmly condemns.

In response to a question from a government employee seeking to supplement his income by accepting such payments, Grand Mufti Dr. Nazir Ayyad affirmed that this practice is religiously impermissible, as an employee’s salary already compensates them for their duties and work hours. Any additional payment taken within the scope of official duties is considered unlawful gain.

Dr. Ayyad emphasized that Islam encourages lawful earning and avoiding all forms of corruption or exploitation, citing the Quranic verse:

“Then disperse through the land and seek of Allah’s bounty.” [Al-Jumu‘ah: 10]

He also referred to the Prophet Muhammad’s saying: “Seeking lawful sustenance is a form of jihad.”

Highlighting the words of classical scholars like Al-Samarqandi and Al-Bayhaqi, the Mufti noted that honest work and lawful earnings are forms of worship that preserve dignity and bring divine blessing.

Dar Al-Iftaa concluded that while Islam allows efforts to improve one’s income, it forbids exploiting public office or accepting undue payments, urging employees to remain honest, sincere, and content with their lawful income.