Assalaamu alaykum. I am unemployed and have found a job in the data center of a bank that deals with interest, but the job is to enter cheque-related data in their computer system. These cheques are for business transactions or the employee payrolls of others companies. My question is whether I can take this job or not. God bless you.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It must be known to you, dear brother, that it is prohibited to work in interest-based banks because this involves cooperation in dealing with interest. The bank clerk hardly escapes direct involvement in interest dealings or helping others in this regard. Whoever helps another person to deal with interest shares the sin with him. This is evidenced by the hadeeth narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, who related that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cursed the one who consumes interest, the one who gives it to others, the one who writes it down, and the one who witnesses it. He said, "All of them are equal (in sin)." [Muslim]

Entering employee payrolls of other companies, if they are involved in interest-transactions with the bank, and cheques of commercial transactions of the interest-based bank is all considered cooperation in sin, so it is impermissible to work in an interest-based bank, even if it is in this job. However, if a person is compelled to work in it out of necessity, then necessity entails certain rulings. One of these rulings is that necessity makes permissible what is originally prohibited. If a person finds himself in compelling necessity to work in an interest-based bank, then he may work in it until he finds a lawful alternative, as necessity should be answered proportionately. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {But whoever is forced (by necessity), neither desiring (it) nor transgressing (its limit), there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 2:173]

The necessity that makes it allowable for you to work in an interest-based bank is when you believe that you would most likely incur your own destruction if you do not work or that you would most likely suffer intolerable harm such as not being able to provide the minimum basics of life from food, drink, and residence (even if rental); and you know your situation the best. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {Rather, man, against himself, will be a witness, even if he presents his excuses.} [Quran 75:14-15]

You should know that whoever fears Allah, He will not let him down and will give him provisions from sources which he does not expect. He says (what means): {And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]

Allah knows best.