Permissibility of an employee accepting gifts from supervisors

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Q 1: I am a principal of a school compound at one of the villages affiliated to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, all praise be to Allah. I would like to clarify to Your Eminence that the people of this village are nomads, belonging to Arabian tribes. They are characterized by generosity and gallantry. They always take the initiative to invite me to either lunch or supper. If I refuse, they send me the slaughtered animal to my house at the village and say that this is their duty towards me and my colleague teachers. I am worried that this might be a sort of a bribe. It should be mentioned that whoever invites me has children at the school, or works in driving the students, or even wants to curry favor with me for my post as a principal. Yet some of them do not have any interests. (Part No. 23; Page No. 582) Should I reject these invitations? I find this matter very annoying.

A: It is not permissible for an employee to accept presents or gratuities from any beneficiary. The same applies to a school principal; it is not permissible for him to accept the presents given by students or their parents. All this falls under prohibited Ghulul (embezzling from booty). It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Gifts given to workers are Ghulul. This is because accepting them involves compromises and unlawful rendering of services or favors.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.