Is this allowed to bribe when I am forced?

Sources

• ✓ 2:172 · Al-Baqara

  2:172 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

  O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He Whom ye worship.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 2:172

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 2:172

  Allah Almighty commands His believing servants to eat from the good and lawful provisions He has granted them and to be grateful to Him for these blessings if they truly consider themselves His servants. Eating lawful and pure food facilitates the acceptance of one’s prayers and acts of worship, whereas consuming that which is forbidden obstructs such acceptance. This principle is supported by a hadith reported by Imam Ahmad, narrated from Abu Huraira: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "O people, Allah is pure and only accepts that which is pure. Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the messengers, saying: 'O messengers, eat from the good things and act rightly; indeed, I am aware of what you do' [Qur'an 23:51], and He said: 'O you who have believed, eat from the good things We have provided for you.' Then He described a man who travels a long journey, disheveled and dusty, who raises his hands to the sky saying, 'O Lord, O Lord,' while his food, drink, and clothing are unlawful. How can his supplication be answered?" This hadith, also recorded by Muslim and Tirmidhi, underscores that lawful provision is a prerequisite for accepted worship and prayer. After Allah granted them His provisions and guided them to eat from what is pure and good, He specified what is forbidden: the carrion (dead meat not slaughtered), which refers to an animal that dies by any cause other than proper slaughtering — whether strangled, beaten to death, fallen from a height, gored by a wild beast, or partially eaten by wild animals. The majority of scholars extend this prohibition to carrion from the sea based on the verse: "Lawful for you is the catch of the sea and its food as provision for you and the travelers" [Qur'an 5:96]. The Prophet (peace be upon him) affirmed that the sea is pure, its water is wholesome, and its carrion is lawful. Further, it was narrated that two kinds of carrion and two types of blood are lawful for Muslims: fish and locusts, and the liver and spleen, principles which will be discussed more in Surah Al-Ma'idah. Milk and eggs connected to carrion animals are deemed impure by the Shafi'i school and others, as they are parts of the animal. Malik stated in a narration that milk is pure but can become impure by contact, and there is scholarly disagreement about the impurity of the flesh of animals that suffocate. The famous view is that such flesh is impure, though the companions did consume cheese from Zoroastrians. Al-Qurtubi comments that a small admixture of impurity in milk is overlooked when diluted with a large amount of liquid. Ibn Maja reports from Salman that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said lawful things are those permitted by Allah in His Book, forbidden are those prohibited therein, and what is unmentioned is considered pardoned. Likewise, the flesh of the pig is forbidden whether it is slaughtered or dies naturally; its fat is considered part of its flesh, either primarily or by analogy. Also forbidden is what is slaughtered for any other than Allah’s name: for idols, idols themselves, wooden pegs, or anything the pre-Islamic pagans offered sacrifices to. Al-Qurtubi quotes Ibn Atiyyah who narrated from Al-Hasan Al-Basri that a woman preparing a feast for her idol broke the ruling of permissible food, so her meat is not to be eaten. Aisha was asked about what non-Muslims slaughter in their festivals and give to Muslims; she replied that only what is slaughtered for that day specifically is forbidden, and allowed is the produce of their trees. Allah then permits eating of such forbidden things in times of necessity when there is no other food available. The verse states: "But whoever is forced by necessity, neither desiring sin nor exceeding the limit, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." Mujahid explained that ‘‘forced by necessity’’ means someone compelled against their will — such as cut off from the road, separated from lawful food, or outside the authority of the Muslim rulers. But if one transgresses intentionally or with wanton desire, there is no concession. Sa'id ibn Jubayr and others spoke similarly, emphasizing that ‘‘not desiring sin’’ means not deliberately seeking unlawful food for pleasure. Qatada said whoever eats unlawful food under compulsion may exceed from the lawful to the forbidden while preferring to avoid that. Al-Qurtubi highlights two scholarly views regarding the condition of the compelled person finding both carrion and lawful food where no clear harm is apparent. Generally, it is stated that one should prefer lawful food unless absolutely prevented. He also narrates from Sunan ibn Maja the hadith of Abbad ibn Al-Anzi, where during a famine he took some wheat to eat, causing conflict with its owner. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said he did nothing wrong as he was in dire need and ignorant, and the owner was commanded to return his garment and give him some food. Similarly, a hadith from Amr ibn Shuayb shows that eating from fruits fallen from trees for someone in need is permitted. Miqatil ibn Hayyan commented on the verse about necessity, saying that what is eaten under compulsion carries no sin, and that excess consumption is limited to three bites. Sa'id ibn Jubayr said Allah is forgiving of what is eaten unlawfully out of necessity, and merciful in allowing what is forbidden when compelled. Waki' narrated from Al-A'mash a statement that someone who dies without eating or drinking when forced will enter hellfire. This implies that eating carrion out of necessity is a firm obligation, not a mere concession, similar to the allowance given to the sick who must break their fast in Ramadan. Thus, this ayah blends the command to enjoy lawful and good sustenance, the prohibition of carrion, pork, and foods sacrificed to other than Allah, and the allowance granted to the stricken and desperate to eat what is otherwise forbidden, while maintaining the conditions that no sin or transgression occurs in doing so.

• ✓ Sunan Ibn Majah 14:6

  Sunni Sahih (per Al-Albani)

  Sunan Ibn Majah · Book 14, Hadith 6 · Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

  The Prophet said: May God's curse be upon the briber and the one who takes bribes.