Working for Company which Calculates Interest

15-6-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I'm currently working in the United States as a Programmer. The company I'm working at keeps records of people 401k plans and other things which sometimes require the company to calculate the interest on those records. My Job as a programmer does not involve me calculating this interest or dealing with the interest in any way. All the programs that I write are being used with a different kind of calculation that does not involve interest in anyway. Also, not everything the company deals with is interest. Is my Job Haram? Should I quit?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

If your work as a programmer is not related to any form or means of Riba transactions, then there is no objection to continue in your work. But, if the company that you work for runs a business based on Riba dealings, wine and other prohibited matters, and you serve such activities in some way or another, then it is forbidden to work for such a company.

In this context, the Prophet did not only curse one who drinks wine but also all persons who participate in its preparation, its drinking, its serving, etc…

This means that one who helps others to do/make what is forbidden is equal to them in sin and transgression.

Allah Says (what means): {…but do not help one another in sin and transgression.} [Quran 5:2]

It is clearly stated in the Sharee'ah that whatever is conductive to what is forbidden is in itself forbidden.

Allah knows best.