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Fatwa CenterHe faces problems while running his father's business
Question
Assalamu Alaikum My qn is regarding Business transaction and ethics. Please help me regarding this. May Allah bless you. I am a young businessman who joined my dad's business recently. We rent heavy trucks for rent to companies in Qatar. So my doubts are us follows: 1- we provide trucks to a company. Now, the official of that company is insisting on us to give him bribe for giving us trips for transportation. If we does not give him money, he will call some else and forsake our company. What should I do? 2-Since it is heavy trucks, the work is very hard for our drivers, since it may be around 13 or 15 hours work a day. all the works related to heavy transportation are in this way. Will Allah be angry with me in this issue. since there no other alternative i can reduce work hours. 3-We give a annual leave of two months to the drivers during 11 months. Is it okay, since it is the norm here in Qatar. 4- As I am very young, I am thinking about business all the time even during prayers and tilawet quran. this has resulted in my eman getting low and also my thoughts is always regarding dunya. PLease advise me how to be good businessman and at the same time be like the sahaba.(Abdurahman ibn auf, Umar 2 and all who were great at dunya and akhirah).
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and messenger.
First of all, may Allaah reward you for your desire to do what is lawful and your fear of committing what is forbidden, and we ask Allaah to grant you mercy and guidance from Himself.
As regards your questions, we will summarize the answer in the following points:
1 – Giving gifts to workers is unethical and bribery is prohibited as we have stated in Fatwa 83777. However, if those employees are authorized to take the gifts that they request, or they are not authorized to take them but there is a custom to give such gifts them, and if someone does not provide them with such gifts, they do not provide service to them even though such a person has more right to their services due to him presenting good prices and providing quick production or something else that is required in a business transaction, then there is no harm in providing that, and the sin is on them and not him.
The author of Tuhfat Al Ahwathi bi sharh At-Tirmithi writes: “Whatever is given in order to ensure a right or repel an injustice is not included in bribery. It was narrated that Ibn Mas‘ood 
was taken captive in the land of Abyssinia for something, and he gave two dinaars so that he would be set free. It was also reported about a group of Imaams from the Taabi‘is that they said: “It is permissible for a man to pay something to save himself and his wealth if he fears injustice…"
Also, Al-Mirqaat Sharh Al-Mishkaat reads: “It was said that bribery is what is given to revoke a right or to achieve an injustice, but if one gives it to ensure a right or to defend himself, then there is nothing wrong with it.”
2 - Concerning the issue of working hours, vacations, and other matters, what should be considered here is what was agreed upon between the employer and the workers. But if an employer facilitates the matters for them because of taking into account the hard working conditions, then he will be rewarded for this. Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah narrated that the Prophet said: “May Allaah have mercy on a man who is lenient (easy and benevolent) when he sells and when he buys and when he asks for repayment (of his debt).” [Al-Bukhari]
3 - For achieving devotion in prayer and being submissively attentive, there are some causes for this which we have clarified in Fataawa 85048 and 117350. A Muslims should desire that the worldly life be in his hand not in his heart, and that it serves as a means for acquiring virtues, honor and high rank in this world and the Hereafter, and not that he be a means for the worldly life. In order for someone to be like those rich Companions you have mentioned in your question, one should read their biographies and follow their examples in giving, striving, and sacrificing for Islam.
Finally, we recommend you to keep the company of righteous people and those who excel you in worship and piety and good deeds in order to follow their example, and who would help you perform acts of obedience. One should always look at those who are below him in status with regard to the worldly life so that he would be grateful to Allaah for His Bounty on him and not become a transgressor.
Also, supplication is key in attaining all these degrees and being helped to reach them, so you should be keen on supplicating Allaah and choosing the best times when it is most likely that the supplication are answered.
Allaah Knows best.
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