A time will come when people will no longer care whether their wealth has been lawfully or unlawfully acquired. (Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA) and reported by Imam Bukhari).

How beautifully does this Hadith apply to the present times. When accumulation of wealth becomes the only priority for people, they lose what some people call conscience. Then it hardly matters whether the wealth is amassed through Halal or Haram means. Allah the most exalted and the most revered Prophet (SAW) have repeatedly urged the Muslims to earn through Halal means alone. On one occasion the Holy Prophet (SAW) said that a person’s prayers who earns his livelihood through Haram means are not accepted. Similarly, no prayer is accepted if the person offering them wears a garment earned through unlawful means.
Islam has laid down guidelines for the traders and for other classes of people. Taking bribe, hoarding goods with the intention of raising their price and all acts, which infringe the rights of others, or subject a person to loss, are forbidden. Therefore, one cannot justify his indulgence in such acts by any means. What has been forbidden by Allah the almighty and the most revered Prophet (SAW) cannot be allowed, cannot become lawful for a particular person not even for some particular time.
“Those who take bribes and those who give bribes are cursed by Allah” …..(Al Bukhari, Al Muslim). When a person gives bribe, he gets something which otherwise was not due to him. Or to put it plainly he infringes the rights of others. Similarly when a person takes bribe he gives something to a person who did not deserve it. For example, if an officer receives a bribe and admits some one to a professional institution, he is marring the career of a hardworking and meritorious candidate. Taking bribe and giving bribe are grave sins and shall land both of them in Hell. Can anybody justify taking bribe or giving bribe whatever the compulsions and whatever the circumstances confronting him?
“A merchant who hoards goods in order to raise their price is a sinner”….(Al Muslim). Addressing the traders, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said, “It is not just for a man to sell his merchandise without disclosing its defects. It is proper for the vendor to tell the buyer of any defects of which he is aware”…. (Reported by Ahmad Ibn Hambal) . At on yet another occasion, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said, “The trader who does not hoard essential supplies receives His sustenance, while the hoarder of essential supplies is cursed”…(Narrated by Umer bin Khataab (RA) and reported by Ibn Majah).