Should he pay money for the employee to expedite the paperwork he needs to get married?

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
I want to give a certain amount of money to one of the workers in a government department so that he will finish processing some paperwork that I have with them, because the regular time for processing these papers is one year, but if I pay money it will be done after ten days, and I am in urgent need of it because these papers are for the purpose of getting married. I hope that you can advise me. Please note that I think it is haraam and regarded as a bribe, but I hope to do it and then offer expiation, and my intention is sincere.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
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Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

Giving money to an employee working in the department is not permissible, and it comes under the heading of bribery and haraam gifts to workers. Bribery is a kind of ruining the land and corrupting the people, and it is a major sin because of the report narrated by Ahmad (6791) and Abu Dawood (3580) from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed the one who gives a bribe and the one who takes it. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 2621. 

So long as this is the time it takes to process these papers, and the delay does not result from the employee taking too long and being unfair, there is no justification for paying money. You have to be patient or discuss it the official in charge in the hope that he can expedite the processing of your papers.  

Secondly: 

No one has the right to do what Allah has forbidden on the basis that he will repent or offer expiation, because he does not know whether Allah will give him enough time to repent or accept his repentance. There is no expiation for bribery according to sharee‘ah. 

And Allah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in Islam

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