Current trend of recruitment system in Manipur in Islamic perspective

Mohd. Umar Khan *

Manipur is a beautiful place in North eastern part of India. Nature's beauty is everywhere in this small state. Here reside beautiful and innocent people with beautiful hearts. Love and care is all in the atmosphere. One can find Mandirs, Masjids, Churches, Gurudwaras in this very small state. Existing of Unity in diverged culture and people of the state prove this fact. Literacy level is increasing day by day as well as the hardworking level.

It is very unfortunate that we, Manipuris (Meetei, Muslim, Christian, etc.), are fully drowned in the present trend of enrollment. If we want a state govt. job, our pocket should be full besides high level sources etc. Every job has fixed rates, is in a state of increasing every year. Our elders use to say don't hope for state govt. job, you have to go for central govt. job, as our elders were against the bribery.

The worst part of our beautiful and lovely state Manipur is the present recruitment system. Most of the deserving candidates got rejected as they failed to feed the higher officials. If anyone applies for a job he should have links with the higher officials for the said department, politicians and should have good amount to feed. The one who has enough money can surely get state govt. job whereas the other who don't have is not lucky enough to grab a job, even if he deserves for it. Some sold/mortgaged their hereditary lands/assets, some break their father's FD & mother's jewelry to feed those starving people/concerned officials. Even though some missed the job after they have done it.

Many heartbreaking events had occurred in running for state govt. job. The way to get the job is that a candidate should first contact a person(X) who have link with those concerned officials or politicians(Y) who have the power of selection. Then X will give the amount to Y as per their demands. Higher the post, higher is the rate. This is the real picture of present recruitment process in Manipur. Having enough knowledge about this whole process, we, the public of Manipur, are encouraging the same or remains as mere spectator. We forget that many poor deserving candidates failed/lost. We are not giving respects to each other's rights. It is what we can call as Bribery, which is a part of Corruption.

According to oxforddictionaries.com, the meaning of corruption is dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power: typically involving bribery: the action or effect of making someone or something morally depraved: the process by which a word or expression is changed from its original state to one regarded as erroneous or debased: the process by which a computer database or program becomes debased by alteration or the introduction of errors: the process of decay; putrefaction. It makes me understood that the above whole things which are happening in Manipur is purely a corruption. Taking a bribe is also way of consuming someone else's wealth wrongfully. A bribe refers to any kind of property which is offered to a judge or public servant in order to obtain a decision in favor of oneself or against a rival, to expedite one's own affair, or to delay that of one's competition, and so on.

As the topic lean to Islamic perspective, we need to have some idea about Islam. So, Islam is the most beautiful and the most truth religion in this Universe. It says "there is no God, but Allaah (SWT), the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful and Muhammad (SAW) is His last Messenger". Islam says to be righteous. It teaches us all about truth. Allaah (SWT) - the Creator sent down the Holy Quran as guidance to the whole mankind and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) (Hadiths), fourteen hundred years ago. A Muslim (follower of Islam) should maintain good relations with his relatives, but he should not unjustly favor them over others.

Further, a Muslim must be good to his neighbors, no matter of their religion. Yahya related to me from Malik from Said ibn Abi Said al-Maqburi from Abu Shurayh al-Kabi that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or be silent. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be generous to his neighbour. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should be generous to his guest. His welcome is for a day and a night, and his hospitality is for three days. Whatever is more than that is sadaqa. It is not halal for a guest to stay with a man until he becomes a burden." - (Malik Al-Muwatta, Volume 49, Number 22).

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best friend in the sight of Allah is he who is the well-wisher of his companions, and the best neighbour is one who behaves best towards his neighbours. Transmitted by Tirmidhi. – (Al-Tirmidhi, Number 120). There are thousands of teachings in Islam to be fair to others, live together helping each other and the ways to follow in every steps and stages of life. Allaah knows the best.

Regarding the current system of recruitment in Manipur state govt. jobs, I would say it completely comes under Bribery – a part of corruption.

In the Holy Quran, Allaah (SWT) says, "And do not consume your property among yourselves wrongfully, nor seek access to judges by means of it in order that you may sinfully consume a portion of peoples' wealth, while you know (what you do)". (Surat Al Baqara, 2:188)

"O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful." (Surat An-Nisa', 4:29)

Islam has prohibited the Muslim to approach the officials of a government or their subordinates for the purpose of offering them a bribe; it has prohibited the later to accept it; and it has prohibited that any third person should arrange matters between the givers and the takers of the bribe. Allaah knows the best. As stated by many learned Islamic Scholars.

"There is no doubt that paying a bribe in order to get a job is "Haraam" both for the one who pays the bribe and the one who accepts it, and for the one who mediates between them. No exception is made except in cases where the bribe is paid to remove injustice or to attain rights which can only be attained through bribery. In that case it is permissible for the one who gives it but it is haraam for the one who takes it. Allaah knows the best." As stated by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid – the Supervisor of islamqa.info and also Imam and khateeb at 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Azeez Mosque in al-Khobar (a large city located in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

The Prophet (peace be on him) said, "Allah's curse is on the one who offers the bribe and on the judge who accepts it." (Reported by Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih.)

Thawban said, "The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) cursed the one who offers the bribe, the one who receives it, and the one who arranges it." (Reported by Ahmad and al-Hakim.)

If the recipient of the bribe accepts it in order to do injustice, his sin is the greater, while if he intended to do justice, it was his simple duty for which no payment was needed. Allaah knows the best.

The Prophet (peace be on him) sent 'Abdullah bin Rawahah to the Jews to estimate what they owed as taxes on their palm trees. The Jews offered him some money as a gift. He told them, "What you have offered as a bribe is haram and we do not accept it." (Reported by Malik)

It is not surprising that Islam has prohibited bribery and that it is severe against all those who participate in it. The propagation of bribery in a society leads to corruption and oppression: unjust decisions are made and just ones are blocked, undeserving persons are given chances and deserving ones are passed over, and the spirit of greed pervades the society in place of the spirit of dutifulness.