Responding to Menag on Not All Gifts Being Gratuity, MUI Deputy Chairman: Opens Door to Bribery

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Anwar Abbas, reminded state officials to be cautious in accepting gifts or presents related to their positions and duties. Such gifts have the potential to open the door to bribery practices, or riswah, which are forbidden by both religion and state law.

Anwar Abbas made this statement in response to the remarks of the Minister of Religious Affairs (Menag) of the Republic of Indonesia, Nasaruddin Umar, who previously stated that not all gifts constitute gratuity, referring to the story of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

“Fundamentally, the law of giving and receiving in Islam is mubah or permissible. It becomes haram or forbidden if the giving causes the giver and receiver to engage in acts prohibited by religion, such as bribery,” Anwar told Republika.co.id on Tuesday (12/5/2026).

According to him, Islam strictly prohibits the practice of bribery. He quoted a hadith narrated by Tirmidzi, which states that Allah SWT curses the giver and receiver of bribes.

Anwar explained that a gift can be categorised as bribery if someone gives money, goods, or other benefits to an official or employee in order to misuse their authority for the benefit of the giver.