Question
Is it permissible to pay what people are referring to as a facilitation fee (fancy new term for a bribe) in order to secure contracts or tenders? Their argument is that if you do not pay it, you will not get the contract or tender and end up making no money.
Answer
Giving bribes is completely forbidden in Islam. A Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam warns:
قال النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم لعنة الله علي الراشي والمرتشي
رواه الترمذى
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said: Allah Ta’aala’s curse is upon he who gives bribes and he who accept bribes.
It is not permissible to give the so-called facilitation fee.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
أكما لو اضطر الى دفع مرشوة لاحياء حقه جاز له الدفع و حرم على القابض
(رد المحتار ج ۵ ص ٧٢)