Accepting an invitation from a person who works in a bank

Q: My cousin use to work in a bank. His job is in CAD department that verify's that if the customer applying for the loan could pay back to the bank. And after verification, he shares his approval with the loan providers in the bank.

My question is, since I and my family has a very close relation with them and they sometime invite us for dinner, lunch at their home. Is it halaal for me to eat from them considering my cousin is the only earner in their home?

A: The main operation of banks revolve around interest and there are severe warnings in the Quraan Majeed and Mubaarak Ahaadith for those who get involved in the grave sin of interest.

Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) cursed the one who consumes riba (interest), the one who feeds it to others, the one who records it (i.e. the transaction) and those who are witness to it (i.e. the transaction). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also said, “All of them are equal (in the sin of interest).”

Hence, if this is the only source of his income or this is the major portion of his income, then it will not be permissible for you to accept his invitation as his earnings are not halaal.

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

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)