Working in a bank

Q: I am working in a bank. Is my employment permissible in Shari’ah?

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A: If you are working in the bank and are involved in the haraam activities of the bank e.g. providing interest-bearing loans, etc. then your earnings are haraam. You should sincerely repent to Allah Ta'ala and look for a halaal source of income. As long as you do not find a halaal source of income, you should continue to make istighfaar. If you are employed for some service in the bank which is not against the Shari’ah e.g. sweeping, guarding, etc. then if the major portion of the bank’s wealth is halaal (deposits of people), then your income is not haraam. However, despite your income not being haraam, being part of an interest-based operation is detestable. If the major portion of the bank’s wealth is haraam (interest), then your income will not be halaal, even if you are employed for sweeping or guarding.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللَّـهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّـهِ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿البقرة: ٢٧٥﴾

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا الرِّبَا أَضْعَافًا مُّضَاعَفَةً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٣٠﴾  (سورة آل عمران الآية 130)

وَتَعاوَنوا عَلَى البِرِّ وَالتَّقوى وَلا تَعاوَنوا عَلَى الإِثمِ وَالعُدوان ﴿المائدة: ٢﴾

عن جابر قال لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديه وقال هم سواء (صحيح مسلم # 1598)

عن أبى هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ليأتين على الناس زمان لا يبقى أحد إلا أكل الربا فإن لم يأكله أصابه من بخاره (سنن أبي داود # 3333)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)