Q 2: What is the ruling on favoritism? What is your opinion about a man who works in government circles and he wants to lease a building to it. Those who are responsible for his building or rather his father’s building offer the building, but he does not enter into the matter at all. However, the committee searching for a building knows that it belongs to this man and they are friendly with him. Maybe his building was the best, but as the committee is friendly with him, they offer to rent his building at a higher price in comparison to prices in the area of neighboring buildings. It should be noted that the rent of 120,000 Riyals will not be paid by the committee administrators, but will be submitted to the ministry. What is the ruling on renting this building in this case? What is your advice?

A: It is not permissible for the committee to settle a bid based on friendship with this employee to rent his or rather his father’s house, nor is it permissible to show favoritism by increasing the rent of the house, as this harms the other bidders from one side and wrongs and cheats the government as well, and harms it. It is not permissible for the employee or anyone who knows about this fraud and injustice to approve it. They should repudiate it and try to change it if they are able to. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (Part No. 15; Page No. 158)  “Anyone of you who sees an evil action, let them change it with their hand (by taking action); if they cannot, then with their tongue (by speaking out); and if they cannot, then with their heart (by hating it and feeling that it is wrong); and that is the weakest of Iman (faith).” (Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and Ashab-ul-Sunan [authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes]) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.