dr. Fiaz Fazili
If there’s one immoral habit I would want to eradicate from society, it would be the pervasive culture of asking for tips, called baksheesh, greasing of hands or chai in local parlance .In the fabric of societal ethics, certain practices stand out not just as nuisances but as malignant tumours eating away at the core values we profess to uphold. Among these, the insidious trio of tipping, greasing hands, and chai—though seemingly innocuous—harbour within them the seeds of moral corruption. It’s imperative to recognize their detrimental effects and collectively strive to eradicate them from our social tapestry.
At first glance, tipping may appear as a benign act of gratitude, a token of appreciation for services rendered. However, delve deeper, and you’ll uncover a labyrinth of inequity and moral compromise. Tipping perpetuates a culture where the quality of service rendered is contingent upon the willingness or ability of the patron to bestow an extra sum of money. It transforms a fundamental aspect of economic exchange—payment for services—into a discretionary act, introducing an element of unpredictability and inconsistency.
Moreover, tipping fosters an environment where certain professions are undervalued and underpaid, relying on the generosity of patrons rather than fair compensation for their labor. This imbalance perpetuates social inequalities, creating a hierarchy where those in service industries must rely on the whim of customers for their livelihood. In essence, tipping undermines the dignity of labor, reducing it to a transactional relationship dictated by societal norms rather than intrinsic value.
Greasing hands, a euphemism for bribery or corruption, corrodes the very foundations of a just and equitable society. Whether it’s slipping a bill into the palm of a government official to expedite bureaucratic processes or offering a bribe to secure a job or contract, greasing hands subverts meritocracy and fosters a culture of dishonesty and favoritism. It erodes trust in institutions, undermines the rule of law, and perpetuates a cycle of corruption that stifles economic growth and social progress.
The practice of chai, or offering tea as a means to influence decision-making or curry favor, may seem quaint on the surface. However, it embodies a deeper problem of transactional relationships superseding genuine connections and merit-based interactions. Chai culture reinforces the notion that personal connections and networking are more valuable than skills or qualifications, perpetuating a cycle of nepotism and cronyism that hampers meritocracy and innovation.
Is Gift Giving a Form of Bribery in Islam? for your wealth to be halaal, and we ask Allaah to make us independent of means by that which He has permitted, so that we will have no need of that which He has forbidden, and to make us independent of means by His bounty.
This is one of the serious problems that have become widespread nowadays, where many workers do not hesitate to ask for a tip, and some of them think that it is a right that is their due, and some of them will argue about the amount if it is given to them. They may also be negligent in performance of their job if they feel that they are not going to get a tip or they are going to be tipped poorly, and they will work harder for one who tips more generously. Whoever thinks about that will see that there are many negative consequences that result from giving these tips. They may be summed up as follows: 1 – If the worker is being paid by the one who sent him, then there is no point in giving him a tip. Rather the apparent meaning of the Sunnah is that this is haraam. (Shaikh Al Munajjid ). The reference guide for Believers Al-Bukhaari (7174) and Muslim (1832) narrated that Abu Humayd al-Saa’idi (may Allaah be pleased with him) said
The difference between a haraam gift and a permissible gift is that if it is given because of a person’s work, then it is haraam. The guideline concerning this is to look at the person’s situation: if he was not in this job, would he have been given this gift? This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) meant when he said: “Why doesn’t he sit in the house of his father and mother and see if he will be given anything or not?” 2 – These bribes tempt the worker to favour the giver, so that he may give him something that he is not entitled to, which will cause harm to the one who hired him. 3 – They may cause the worker to resent others who do not give him anything, so he does not do a good job for them and falls short in his work. 4 – It may make the worker audacious in asking and demanding, and make him expect tips and hope for them, which is a bad habit which should be stopped and fought, because Islam calls on us to have pride and self-respect, and not to look for that which is in the hands of others. Rather Islam forbids us to ask except in the case of necessity. Islam does not want a large majority of the ummah to become beggars, even if it is in the form of tips. These negative effects may be weighed against the idea of being kind to the worker and giving him something extra as a kind of charity if he is poor or responding to his request for more so as to avoid being unkind to him.But the basic principle according to the scholars is that warding off harm takes precedence over seeking benefits. Based on this, it is not permissible to give so-called tips, except within narrowly defined terms that are free of these evils, such as if the worker has finished his work and is not expected to do any more work for the giver of the tip, so there is no risk of bribery or favouritism. In that case it is permissible to give him something by way of honouring him or helping him, according to the fatwas issued by some scholars, as we shall see below, but it is better not to do that, because that may make him get used to asking for or expecting tips, and it may make him resent those who do not give him anything.(ISLAMQA)
To address these issues, we must first recognize the systemic nature of the problem and acknowledge our collective complicity in perpetuating these practices. Tackling tipping, greasing hands, and chai requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both the supply and demand sides of the equation.
On the demand side, we must challenge the social norms and expectations that perpetuate these practices. Instead of tipping, we should advocate for fair wages and dignified working conditions for all, irrespective of their profession. We must promote transparency and accountability in governance to root out corruption and ensure that merit, not patronage, guides decision-making.
On the supply side, we must empower individuals and institutions to resist the temptation of engaging in corrupt practices. This requires robust legal frameworks, effective enforcement mechanisms, and a culture that values integrity and ethical conduct. It also necessitates investment in education and awareness campaigns to instil values of honesty, fairness, and accountability from an early age.
Furthermore, we must foster a culture of ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility, where businesses and organizations prioritize principles over profit and actively work to eradicate corruption in all its forms.
In conclusion, the menace of tipping, greasing hands, baksheesh and chai represents a moral corruption that undermines the very fabric of society. To combat this scourge, we must collectively reject these practices and work towards a more just, equitable, and ethical world. It’s not just a matter of personal choice but a moral imperative that requires concerted action at all levels of society. Only then can we build a future where integrity, fairness, and meritocracy prevail over corruption and cronyism.
The Author besides being a medical doctor is very active in positive perception management of various moral, social and religious issues. He can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com & twitter