Fatwa No : 84990
Selling Government Job Vacancies and Taking Money by Officials

Selling Government Job Vacancies and Taking Money by Officials

What do the respected muftis say regarding the following matter: The government has issued an advertisement in newspapers stating that in districts where there are vacant positions in the education departments, candidates may submit their documents according to the given conditions. One of these conditions is that each union’s candidate will be appointed to a vacant post in their union after passing a test and interview. Now the question is: some government officials who hold these posts sell them for money. Is it permissible for me to purchase one such post belonging to my union with money? If not, others will buy that post with money. For those who have bought posts in this manner, is it permissible for them to work in that job, and is it permissible for them to receive the salary or impermissible?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

For government officials, selling vacant posts and taking money for them is absolutely impermissible and haram, and it is also not permissible for them to use the money obtained in this way for their own benefit. However, if a person participates in an interview required for a job in an institution, and he qualifies based on merit, educational credentials, and eligibility for the post, and if it is impossible to secure the post without paying some money due to prevailing corruption, but giving money does not deprive anyone of their rights, then in such a case, although paying some amount to secure one’s rightful position may be excused, and the salary of such a job will be halal, the person receiving the money is still acting unlawfully and haram, and one must avoid it. On the other hand, obtaining a post merely by giving money without having the required qualifications or eligibility for the position issued by the institution is impermissible and haram, and one must refrain from it.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) اضطر إلى دفع رشوة لإحياء حقه جاز له الدفع وحرم على القابض الخ (5/ 72)۔