Working in a usurious bank to pay there back his study loan Fatwa No: 105477
- Fatwa Date:6-3-2008
bismellah arrahmen arrahim is it haram to work in bank in my cas which folow ? i was sponsored by bank and have to work for six years otherwise i have to pay 18000 DINARS as the money spent by the bank in order to achieve my studies i stress that before signing the contract with the bank i ignore that interest bank is considered as riba; what to do in my case because i can't afford the money to repay the bank? wa salamou alaykoum
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is forbidden to work in banks that deal with Riba (interest and/or usury) because the person working in these banks either records the Riba, calculates it or helps in it in any way, and all these forms are forbidden. The Prophet said: “Allaah has cursed the one who consumes Riba (i.e. usury or interest), the one who gives it to others, the one who records it and the one who witnesses it.” [Muslim]
Therefore, it is not permissible for you to accept the condition of the bank to work for them because it is an invalid condition and you are obliged to get rid of this job.
However, if you are unable to pay the required amount of money and you fear to be imprisoned if you refrain from working, then you may work for a necessity and the necessity should be valued according to its proper value. As soon as you become able to leave this work, you are obliged to do so.
For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 82399.
Allaah Knows best.