matters being sought in return for payment. Seeking positions of authority is itself forbidden, so how much more so when payment is involved! It would follow that whoever was in a position to pay would be appointed and given funds, even if someone else were more deserving and better suited. Indeed, this would entail appointing the ignorant, the sinful and the wicked, while passing over the knowledgeable, just and capable; and granting military stipends to the sinful and to cowards incapable of fighting, while passing over upright, courageous men who benefit the Muslims. Such practices cause much corruption. If someone takes payment and intercedes for an undeserving person when another is more deserving, he may neither take the payment nor intercede; refraining from both is better. If, however, he takes payment and intercedes for the person most deserving and best suited, while passing over the undeserving, then withholding intercession while taking payment is more harmful than interceding for someone undeserving.

The intercessor whose request secures acceptance for his intercession should be told:

You must act with sincerity towards Allah, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and the Muslims at large. This would be your duty even without such influence and wealth; how much more so when you possess them! You must give sincere counsel to the person with whom you intercede, explaining who deserves appointment, employment and financial support, and who does not. By doing so, you act sincerely towards the Muslims, and through obedience you act sincerely towards Allah and His Messenger, for this is among the greatest acts of obedience. You must benefit the deserving person by helping him obtain these things, just as you must pray, fast and strive in Allah’s cause.

As for a man whose word carries weight, if he partakes of food beyond the hospitality sanctioned by Islamic law, he must repay his host with something equivalent, or else refrain from partaking of the excess. Otherwise, his acceptance of this additional hospitality is like accepting a gift. He is then like a witness who gives testimony, or an intercessor who intercedes, in return for hospitality or payment. This is among the causes of corruption. And Allah knows best.