Question :
What is the ruling when a purchase officer of a certain company forces a supplier to pay him a certain sum of money?
The Answer :
All perfect praise be to the Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
It`s forbidden for an employee to take any sum of money, or any goods by virtue of occupying a certain post since this leads to corruption in civil service and its duties. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) employed an employee (to collect Zakat). The employee returned after completing his job and said, "O Allah's Messenger (PBUH)! This (amount of Zakat) is for you, and this (other amount) was given to me as a present."
The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, "Why didn't you stay at your father's or mother's house and see if you would be given presents or not? Then Allah's Messenger (PBUH) got up in the evening after the prayer, and having testified that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and praised and glorified Allah as He deserved, he said, "Now then ! What about an employee whom we employ and then he comes and says, 'This amount (of Zakat) is for you, and this (amount) was given to me as a present'? Why didn't he stay at the house of his father and mother to see if he would be given presents or not? By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, none of you will steal anything of it (i.e. Zakat) but will bring it by carrying it over his neck on the Day of Resurrection".{Bukhari}.
In addition, The Prophet (PBUH) said, "When we appoint someone to an administrative post and provide him with an allowance, anything he takes beyond that is unfaithful dealing.{Abu Dawud}. The Prophet(PBUH) also said," A gift given to an employee by virtue of his post is unfaithful dealing." {Imam Ahmad}. The narration of Imam Ahmad is the clearest evidence proving the inadmissibility of taking anything by virtue of occupying a certain post in the civil service.
In conclusion, its forbidden for an employee to take anything by virtue of occupying a certain post; meanwhile, its forbidden for the supplier to help him in that because Allah, the Almighty, said, "Help not one another in sin and rancor" {Al-Mai`dah/2}. And Allah knows best.