Two Questions Regarding Yesterday's Lesson Related to Gifts

QUESTION 1: Some cultures have this etiquette where if one offers a gift the other should politely decline and if they insist then you eventually accept after some back and forth, otherwise people may consider you improper for accepting straight away (especially as sometimes people offer that which they don’t intend to give, out of courtesy/ customs). However, the outcome can vary and if the person doesn’t continue to insist then you’ve declined a gift which is against the sunnah. In these cases, should one uphold the sunnah of accepting gifts straight away or follow their cultural customs? ANSWER (Sheikh Abdulkhaliq Al-Imad hafidahullah) If people consider the direct acceptance of a gift to be inappropriate, and a person perceives from the recipient's demeanour that he is not serious in accepting it but is merely acting out of courtesy, then he should not accept it until the giver insists. However, if he senses sincerity from the giver, even if it is customary for people not to accept gifts immediately, he should accept it directly as long as he perceives genuine intent and a sincere desire to give the gift. QUESTION 2: Also, in regard to receiving a gift from your employer, if one’s workplace has products that they wish to get rid of so they allow only their employees to take them otherwise they’re thrown/given away, is this considered a gift, considering that the items are still valuable and can be sold? ANSWER (Sheikh Abdulkhaliq Al-Imad hafidahullah) Regarding the second question, it is not classified as a gift; therefore, there is no issue. Accepting it is preferable to letting it go to waste. It is either for them or it goes to others. There is no harm in that. Sheikh Muhammad Al-’Ansi further clarified: "With regard to هدايا العمال (gifts given to workers), do not misunderstand this to mean that any worker is prohibited from accepting gifts. The term 'gifts to workers' specifically refers to those who are employed by the ruler—those who receive a salary, stipend, or wages from the public treasury. That is, when a Muslim ruler appoints officials such as deputies, directors, ministers, or governors, he ensures they are provided for from the public treasury. If such individuals then accept gifts, this is considered misappropriation (ghulul). The same applies to judges. This is the meaning of 'gifts to workers are misappropriation.' Likewise, this applies to those responsible for collecting alms and zakat, as accepting gifts in this context could lead to corruption, bias, injustice, oppression, and the neglect of Allāh’s laws (1). However, for someone employed in a private company or working on a farm, receiving gifts is permissible and does not fall under this ruling. Yes, may Allāh bless you." _ (1) This is the ’illah/cause behind the prohibition of gifts to workers.