Women and Corruption

Abstract

Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption, defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone who depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority.” Corruption has a devastating impact on the social, economic, ethical and mental wellbeing of human beings as an individual and community. In Islam, any form of corruption (fasad) like bribery, extortion, kickback and illegal gratuity are strictly prohibited by the texts. The Qur´an enjoins the believers not to consume their property among themselves unjustly and not to give bribes to the rulers that may sinfully and knowingly lead to devouring of the property of others (al-Baqarah 2:188). In several other verses, the text also condemns all forms of economic and political oppression and proscribes spreading of mischief and corruption on the earth (al-Qasas 28:4 and al-A’raf 7:56). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said that the bribe-taker, the bribe-giver and their mediator, all of them invoke God’s wrath.