The following question was posed to the Lajnah Daimah:
Question:
I have an opportunity to work in an accounting and auditing office, which audits the accounts of insurance companies, usurious and non-usurious banks, funfairs and tourism companies. Is it lawful to get a job in such an office as a source of monthly income? Given that I have the relevant educational background, and that these offices do not only audit insurance companies, usurious banks, tourism companies and funfairs; they also supervise commercial investment companies and private businesses, such as doctors, engineers, teachers and craftsmen. Please, Your Eminence, answer my question so that my heart may be content. May Allah guide you to the interest of the Muslims in this world and in the afterworld.
Answer:
If the case is as you have mentioned, that the office you want to work in audits the accounts of insurance companies, usurious banks and funfairs, it will be impermissible for you to work there, because it is considered cooperation with its owners in sin and transgression, as Allah says
Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression.
If your work is going to be in lawful channels, such as the accounts of private businesses and doctors, there is no wrong in this. However, it is better not to accept this job, so that you do not commit the prohibited deeds mentioned above.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Also they were asked the following question:
Question:
I am an accountant in a commercial company, and this company is compelled to take Riba-based loans from the bank. I get a copy of the loan contract to prove what the company owes. Am I regarded as recording a Riba-based transaction and thus should not work at this company? In other words, am I regarded as a sinner just because I keep a record of the contract without being involved in it. Please, answer me, may Allah reward you with the best!
Answer:
It is not permissible to cooperate with the company mentioned regarding Riba-based transactions, because the Prophet (peace be upon him): “cursed the devourer (taker) of Riba (usury/interest), its payer, its scribe and its two witnesses. He said, “They are all equal.” (Reported by Muslim) This act is not permissible too on account of the general meaning of the Allah’s (Exalted be He) Saying: …but do not help one another in sin and transgression.
Also this is likewise the fatwa of Ash-Shaykh Albany rahimahullah as found on the audio below:
[Download]
Also The Lajnah ad-Da’imah was asked the following question:
Question:
What is meant by the person who writes down Riba (usury/interest) in the Hadith of Jabir, according to the narration of Muslim, in which Jabir said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the one who consumes (takes) Riba, the one who pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who witness it. He (peace be upon him) said, “They are all equal.” ? Does “the one who writes it down” refer to the person who records the event or does it perhaps also include anyone else who has nothing to do with the Riba-based institution, except the fact that they work as an accountant, and they perform calculations in accounts books that are not related to the Riba-based document? Would that accountant be regarded as recording Riba or does the word specifically refer to the person who writes down the document of that event and the curse is addressed to no one else? Please advise us and may Allah reward you with the best.
Answer:
The Hadith that curses those who write down Riba is general in meaning. It includes those who record the original document, those who copy it when the original copy becomes worn, and those who record the amount in accounts records, and the accountant who works out the rate of Riba and adds it to the original sum or sends it to the depositor, and so on.
May Allah grant us success.
May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Mentioned by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
Quesion:
Regarding the fatwa above about recording the riba amount, in schools they teach students to calculate riba and they expect students to answer questions to that effect. Is this included in the hadeeth?
Answer:
If it is a course dedicated to learn how to calculate ribaa based ratios, then it should be avoided. And if it is something general and not something specific to learn about ribaa, then it is not included in the aforementioned hadeeth, and Allah knows best.
Answered by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
Shaykh Bin Baz was asked:
Question 136:
What is the ruling on studying Riba-based economics? Furthermore, what is the ruling on working in Riba-based Banks?
Answer:
If the purpose of this study is to know the forms of Riba (usury/interest) and clarify Allah’s ruling on them, it is permissible. However, studying Riba-based economics for any purpose other than that is not permissible. This is because it entails helping one another in sin and transgression while Allah (Glorified be He) says: Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.
Mentioned by
AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
