and he becomes like the accursed Jews.

The word birtīl originally means an elongated stone. A bribe was given this name because it stops the recipient’s mouth from speaking the truth, just as a long stone would. As a report states:

“When bribery enters through the door, trustworthiness leaves through the window.”

The same applies when money is taken for the state in exchange for suspending a prescribed punishment, such as these unlawful payments called “disciplinary fines.” Do you not see how, when troublemaking Bedouins take people’s property and then come to the ruler, leading horses to present to him, or bringing other gifts, their eagerness to spread corruption grows, respect for the governing authority and its power is undermined, and the subjects become corrupt?

The same applies to peasants and others. Likewise, when someone who drinks intoxicants is caught and pays some of his money, see how emboldened the wine dealers become! They hope that, if caught, they too can buy their release with some of their wealth. That governor then takes it as unlawful gain, devoid of blessing, while the corruption continues.

The same applies to influential people who protect someone from having a prescribed punishment carried out against him. For example, a peasant may commit an offence and then seek refuge in a village belonging to the sultan’s deputy or one of his commanders, where he is protected in defiance of Allah and His Messenger. The person who protects him is then among those whom Allah and His Messenger have cursed. Muslim narrated in his Sahīh from ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“May Allah curse whoever commits an offence or shelters an offender.”

Thus, whoever shelters any of these offenders