Working for a Bank Dealing with Riba

30-4-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I'm currently working with a company in the United States that deals with banks and Riba. I'm working as a Programmer Analyst. My main duties is to input information such as payments salaries wages and sometimes I deal with calculating the Payments which involves interest and send it to the bank and receive information from the Bank. Is this Job Haram? Do you advise me to look for another Job? Can I stay on this Job until I find another Job if I need to quit this Job? Is my Sadaqa and the money that I spend for Allah's sake accepted, if this Job is Haram and the salary that I'm taking is Haram?

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Answer:

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 is His slave and Messenger.

 

You are not permitted to work in the company due to the nature of your work since it is cooperation in dealing with Riba (usury/interest).

Allah Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 5:2]

Besides, Jaabir narrated that the Prophet said “Allah 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 (its transaction).” He added: “All of them are equal in sin.” [Muslim]

Therefore, you are obliged to give up this work immediately and search for another work. You should know that if one leaves something for the sake of Allah, surely Allah will give him better than what he left.

Allah Says (what means): {And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. …} [Quran 65:2-3]

Thus, your salary through this job is forbidden and Allah does not accept such money as charity.

The Prophet said: "Allah is Tayyib (which implies pure) and He does not accept but what is pure." [Muslim]

However, if you give in charity from other lawful earnings, then it will be accepted, Allah willing.

Allah knows best.