Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-u-alikum brother,

I am currently thinking of getting into the Accounting profession.

My question is that now a days part of the accountants job repsonsiblity is to calculate interest payments, calculate profits and losses, and calculate stock earnings.

Taking this into account, is the accounting profession halaal? Please advise.

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Answer:

Accounting professtion lawful

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, the profession of ‘accounting’ per say by itself is absolutely lawful and legal in Shariah Law; it is the concept of ‘riba’ that has been unconditionally declared absolutely unlawful and impermissible by Allah and His Messenger (saws) in Islam. Thus regardless if one’s profession is that of an accountant, or a doctor, or a driver, etc.; whoever indulges in the transacting of ‘riba’, they would be guilty of the sin of indulging in the unlawful in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 274-276:

But those who devour ‘riba’ become like the one whom Shaitaan has bewitched and maddened by his touch. They have been condemned to this condition because they say, “Trade is just like ‘riba”, whereas Allah has made trade halaal and ‘riba’ haraam. Henceforth, if one abstains from taking ‘riba’ after receiving this admonition from his Lord, no legal action shall be taken against him regarding the ‘riba’ he had devoured before: his case shall ultimately go to Allah. But if one repeats the same crime even after this, he shall go to Hell, where he shall abide for ever! Allah deprives ‘riba’ of all blessing and develops charity, and Allah does not like an ungrateful, sinful person.

Your Question: My question is that now a days part of the accountants job repsonsiblity is to calculate interest payments, calculate profits and losses, and calculate stock earnings.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2829 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Ali said he heard Allah's Messenger (saws) invoke the curse of Allah on those who took usury, those who paid it, those who recorded it, and those who refused to give sadaqah.

If one who believes has studied or wishes to study accounting as a profession, and fears that the job he would intake would involve him in the recording of the transactions of ‘riba’ done by his employer or company, he will indeed be an accomplice in doing what has clearly been declared as ‘haraam’ by Allah and His Messenger (saws); thus he too will be apportioned his proportionate share of the sin.

Your Question: Taking this into account, is the accounting profession halaal?

We reiterate again that the profession of ‘Accounting’ by itself is absolutely lawful and legal in the Sight of Shariah Law; but if one who believes fears that his chosen profession might involve him in being an accomplice in the doing of what has been clearly declared as unlawful by Allah and His Messenger (saws), he should fear his Lord and strive to use his talents elsewhere where he will not be obliged to indulge in the unlawful.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan