Is It Sinful to Use Services Involving Smuggling and Bribery to Avoid Confiscation?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Would it be sinful to use the services of people who smuggle items across borders for a fee to avoid confiscation, given the involvement of bribery?
Answer
Yes, it would be sinful and against the teachings of Islam to use the services of people who smuggle items across borders for a fee to avoid confiscation, given the involvement of bribery. Violent violations will occur in this process from both an Islamic and legal perspective. Please see this answer for further details:
Obeying the Law of the Land in the West
Obeying the Laws of a Country
Every person who lives in a country or becomes a citizen of that country and agrees to abide by its laws should follow the laws of that country. They are obligated to follow the laws unless a law of the land requires them to do something prohibited in Sharia. Based on this principle, since smuggling is illegal, a Muslim is required to comply with this restriction.
Allah Most High said, nor fling your very hands unto destruction by failing to [Quran, 2:195]. In another verse, He said, O you who believe, fulfill your contracts.” [Quran, 5:1)
In conclusion, it is necessary by Sharia to abide by the laws of the country one lives in, regardless of the nature of the law, as long as it does not contradict Sharia. However, if the law demands something that is against Islam and Sharia, then it will be necessary to abstain from adhering to it, for the famous Hadith states:
“There is no obedience of the creation wherein there is disobedience to the Creator.” [Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad Ahmad].
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.
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Obeying the Law of the Land in the West
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[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
