Gift Versus Bribery (Follow Up)
Question:
It is legal in my country to receive this gift. However, even if it doesn't affect the decision of purchase outright, can you not spot the long term effect? Surely big corporations wouldn't be giving away so many expensive gifts if it didn't give them anything in return? Keeping the long-term notion in mind and knowing that corporations are trying their best to affect the decision to their favor (smaller corporations not being able to give such gifts henceforth loosing out and unable to grow whereas bigger companies get bigger) can we not say that it at least falls in the grey area and that we should stay away from doubtful things?
Answer:
We cannot call something religiously Haram only due to its expected long term effects. There has to be a clear indication of something being religiously forbidden to be able to call it Haram. However we need to appreciate that religion is not the only source of forbidding something. The rules of the state too can declare something forbidden and religiously we are obliged to follow these rules.
I appreciate what you wrote about possible long term effects of such practice. In this situation it is more beneficial if the government can be convinced to declare this illegal and therefore stopping it on a large scale.
However an individual should not only rely in government on this issue. As I wrote in my original answer:
"it will be based on each individual to decide how strong he is. If he knows that his judgement will be affected by these gifts then he has to avoid receiving and accepting them."
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Related Topics:
- Gift Versus Bribery
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May 2013
It is legal in my country to receive this gift. However, even if it doesn't affect the decision of purchase outright, can you not spot the long term effect? Surely big corporations wouldn't be giving away so many expensive gifts if it didn't give them anything in return? Keeping the long-term notion in mind and knowing that corporations are trying their best to affect the decision to their favor (smaller corporations not being able to give such gifts henceforth loosing out and unable to grow whereas bigger companies get bigger) can we not say that it at least falls in the grey area and that we should stay away from doubtful things?
Answer:
We cannot call something religiously Haram only due to its expected long term effects. There has to be a clear indication of something being religiously forbidden to be able to call it Haram. However we need to appreciate that religion is not the only source of forbidding something. The rules of the state too can declare something forbidden and religiously we are obliged to follow these rules.
I appreciate what you wrote about possible long term effects of such practice. In this situation it is more beneficial if the government can be convinced to declare this illegal and therefore stopping it on a large scale.
However an individual should not only rely in government on this issue. As I wrote in my original answer:
"it will be based on each individual to decide how strong he is. If he knows that his judgement will be affected by these gifts then he has to avoid receiving and accepting them."
--------------
Related Topics:
- Gift Versus Bribery
---------------
May 2013