The Muslim-Ethical Norms Combat against Corruption; Are Islamic Perspective been Met in Practice?

The principal objective of this paper is to research the Islamic position on corruption and to employ a variety of terminology and narration to elucidate and condemn a broad category of behavioral digressions involving corruption including bribery and nepotism. Corruption is seen to stem from the abuse of administrative power of any kind, judicial power, political authority and financial dominance. Further, all corrupt acts are construed as lacking in virtue from religious and moral perspective and unjust in relation to the principles that safeguard rendering to everyone their due, thereby undermining communal harmony. Accordingly, this paper will analyze the Islamic perspective on corruption, in particular bribery as a common form of corruption in the religio-society. As all heavenly religions condemns corruption as a severe threat to proper social, economic, and ecological balance. Corruptions in Islam are taboo in Sharia law because they are considered grave criminal offenses and a great sin. However, Muslim nations have been deficient in addressing the issue in their national laws and have failed to meet the lofty standards of Islam. As this paper will uncover, the needs to combat corruption has brought all state holders much closer together by setting up various anti-corruption agencies. It recommends developing a firm belief in transcendent accountability and stresses character building through practicing moral virtues and shunning vices.