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The indian banking industry is based on interest system. please let me know in the light of quraan and hadith whether working in the banking industry is halaal or haraam.

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:

i am working in a nationalised bank in india.

the indian banking industry is based on interest system. please let me know in the light of quraan

and hadith whether working in the banking industry is halaal or haraam. further, i am 45 years old and at this point of time it is not possible to switch over to another job or to select any business field which requires big amount of money. also i am very much interested to proceed for haj so please let us know whether i can perform haj by the earnings and savings of my salary.

 

jazakallah.

 

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Answer:

 

Working in bank and hajj

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.

 

Your Question: i am working in a nationalised bank in india. the indian banking industry is based on interest system. please let me know in the light of qur`aan and hadith whether working in the banking industry is halaal or haraam.

If one facilitates any business which deals exclusively in what has been specifically declared as ‘haraam’ or unlawful by Allah and His Messenger (saws), like ‘riba’, prostitution, pornography, intoxicants, etc., then without an iota of a doubt, one would indeed have a share in the sin according to one’s level of participation.

 

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, it is not that the system of banking in its essence has been declared haraam in Islam; but what Allah and His Messenger (saws) have specifically and categorically declared absolutely forbidden and haraam is the concept of ‘riba’.

 

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.

 

Allah says further in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 278:

O Believers!, fear Allah and give up that ‘riba’ which is still due to you, if you are true believers. But if you do not do so, then you are warned of the declaration of war against you by Allah and His Messenger!

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa verse 161:

That they took ‘riba’, although they were forbidden. And that they devoured men’s substance wrongfully. We have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment (of Hell Fire)!

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2829 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

Ali 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.

 

There is absolutely no doubt that the conventional banking system is based on the system of ‘riba’, and even though one might not be involved himself in consuming ‘riba’, their working in such institutions would make them an accomplice in promoting and facilitating what has clearly been declared forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

 

One cannot say with absolute conviction that the earning of every person working in a conventional bank is unlawful or haraam; but without an iota of a doubt, one would indeed have a share in the sin according to one’s level of participation. It would definitely be prudent and wise of the believers to fear Allah and seek to employ their talents and earn their livelihood from a source which is not doubtful.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.267 Narrated by An Numan bin Bashir

The Prophet (saws) said "Both the ‘halaal’ (legal) and the ‘haraam’ (illegal) things are obvious, and in between them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So whoever forsakes those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid what is clearly illegal; and whoever indulges in these (suspicious) doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal. Sins are Allah's Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment."

 

Your Question: also i am very much interested to proceed for haj so please let us know whether i can perform haj by the earnings and savings of my salary.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 172:

172 O ye who believe! Consume of the good things that We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him ye worship.

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 2214 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘O people, Allah is Good and He, therefore, accepts only that which is good.’

 

As much as the performing of the obligatory rites of Hajj deemed to be amongst the most meritorious deeds in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, Allah is Good and Pure and He only accepts what is good and pure.

 

Just as one cannot steal money and give it in charity expecting rewards from Allah Subhanah; one cannot go to the Sacred pilgrimage of Hajj financed by the wealth one has earned from unlawful sources….for such a pilgrimage would have absolutely no merit or weight in the Sight of Allah Subhanah!

 

It is absolutely imperative that one fear Allah Subhanah and obey all His Commands, and not pick and choose between them! It would be absolutely best if one went to the obligatory pilgrimage of Hajj with one’s lawfully earned wealth, if indeed they wish to earn the due rewards from their Lord for their striving.

 

If one is convinced that their earnings from working in a ‘riba’ based institution is absolutely unlawful, then it would be best if such a person delayed their Hajj until they had lawful provisions to provide for their Hajj pilgrimage. If one is in doubt whether or not their earnings from the bank are lawful or unlawful, and one does perform the Hajj with his doubtfully earned wealth, then their case is with Allah Subhanah Alone….if He Wills He may accept their service, or if He Wills He may reject it.

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

 

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


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