Q: I am an engineer. Sometimes clients offer me gifts upon completion of their projects. My company’s owner and president approves of it. Is it legally permissible in Islam?
A: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
In your case, it seems the gifts are being offered by clients as a gesture of thanks and appreciation. In this case, provided your company’s owner is aware and approves of such a practice, then it is permissible to take these gifts. Although it does not seem to apply to you, what is problematic with so-called gifts is when bribery is carried out under the same name. This is when an ulterior motive, often illegal, is disguised in the form of a gift. The criteria to distinguish between such fake and true gifts is that if they were otherwise revealed would they amount to a violation of ethics? This is considered a sin in Islam for obvious reasons and we leave you to know best what category of “gifts” yours falls into.
Q: What should Muslims’ relationships be with the People of the Book – Christians and Jews?
A: Islam is the true and final message of Allah that was sent to all nations from the beginning of time. This does not preclude Muslims from being tolerant and merciful with followers of other faiths, beliefs or even those of no faith. In no way are Muslims to force anyone to believe in Islam or to become a Muslim, for Allah, the Exalted, says in the Quran: “There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error.”
With specific regards to the attitude of Muslims towards the People of the Book, the Quran says: “And do not dispute with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except with such of them as do wrong,” and say ‘We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him’.”
We are living at a time in which people of different beliefs, nationalities and ethnic origins live side by side in a global village. Islam calls for all to live peacefully with each other, whatever their differences might be. The Quran says: “O Mankind! We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should know one another.”
If you have a question for Awqaf, email newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line ‘Fatwa Q& A’.
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