Working in a conventional bank
Category:
Business Dealings & Money Matters
According to Madhhab:
Hanafi
Reference:
1440-464
Question:
I've been working for
the last 7 years in a bank as a project manager and as I started to grow in
learning my deen, I came to know that it is not halal. I saw some videos on
youtube said that it is ok but I was not comfortable anyway.
I have 2 loans :
- a balance of 2 500$ on which I pay interest (3,5%) and,
- a balance of 20 000$ on which I pay no interest (0%) which is supposed to
finish early 2022.
This last year, 2018, I tried to get another job, had interviews, but I didn't
get one yet. I don't know if it is because I wear hijab. They are forbidding it
more and more in working places.
I've been trying to learn the deen online since 2016 and it hasn't been
effective, and because I don't want to give up on my dream, I started to look
for madrasah. That's how I found your website and saw that you have a darul
ifta.
I wanted to give my resignation at my current job because I'm not at ease.
1- If I do so, I'll start paying 13% interest on the 20 000$ pending balance.
2- I'll not have immediate resources to cover my monthly payments.
3- My elder sister asked me to not resign now because her husband is in great
difficulty, she's already taking care of her home, and cannot take charge of a
second house (my mother and I are living in my mum's place but I take care of
the expenses and her needs).
4- My mother is really worried at the idea.
Everyday I make dua to Allah swt to save me because I wronged myself, but I'm
torn and lost I don't know what to do.
Please give me any advice. I'm sad. I'll be looking forward to hear from you.
the last 7 years in a bank as a project manager and as I started to grow in
learning my deen, I came to know that it is not halal. I saw some videos on
youtube said that it is ok but I was not comfortable anyway.
I have 2 loans :
- a balance of 2 500$ on which I pay interest (3,5%) and,
- a balance of 20 000$ on which I pay no interest (0%) which is supposed to
finish early 2022.
This last year, 2018, I tried to get another job, had interviews, but I didn't
get one yet. I don't know if it is because I wear hijab. They are forbidding it
more and more in working places.
I've been trying to learn the deen online since 2016 and it hasn't been
effective, and because I don't want to give up on my dream, I started to look
for madrasah. That's how I found your website and saw that you have a darul
ifta.
I wanted to give my resignation at my current job because I'm not at ease.
1- If I do so, I'll start paying 13% interest on the 20 000$ pending balance.
2- I'll not have immediate resources to cover my monthly payments.
3- My elder sister asked me to not resign now because her husband is in great
difficulty, she's already taking care of her home, and cannot take charge of a
second house (my mother and I are living in my mum's place but I take care of
the expenses and her needs).
4- My mother is really worried at the idea.
Everyday I make dua to Allah swt to save me because I wronged myself, but I'm
torn and lost I don't know what to do.
Please give me any advice. I'm sad. I'll be looking forward to hear from you.
Answer:
We take note of the contents of your query and we are pleased that you have the enthusiasm to practice upon the perfect Deen of Islam. May Allah Ta'aala too be pleased with you. Always remember that no matter what are the “consequences” of practicing upon the Shari’ah, you should continue querying every aspect of your life and practice accordingly. By doing so, in spite of what the people say, you will be assured a happy life in this world and success in the life after death.
Before answering your query, we would like address two issues:
1. Muslim woman going out of her house to work
We would like to advise you with regards to you as a pure Muslim woman working. One should understand that Allah Ta'aala has made a female the queen of her home. The Shar’i ruling is well known that that Shari’ah does not permit females to emerge from their homes unless in true and dire need. If there is no real necessity, a woman should remain within the confines of her home. Allah Ta'aala mentions in the Noble Quraan:
وَقَرْنَ فِِ بيُُوتِكُنَّ وَلََ تَبََجَّْنَ تَبََجَُّ الَْْاهِلِيَّةِ الُْْولََ...
Remain in your homes and (when it is absolutely necessary to leave your homes, leave properly clothed as mentioned in verse 59 of this Surah) do not make a display of yourselves as was the practice of (women during) the former period of ignorance (during the period before the Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam came to people, when women walked about without adequately covering their bodies). [Surah Ahzaab:33 - Aayah:33]
This is why in each and every stage of a women’s life, Allah Ta'aala has made it incumbent upon a certain individual from her close family to care for her needs. For example, before a woman gets married, the father is responsible and after she gets married, the husband is responsible to care for her needs. In the instance where there is no one from her family available to care for her needs, it becomes incumbent upon the members of her community to provide for her. Yes, in the event where there is no one to provide, Shar’iah permits a woman to go out and work with the following conditions:
- She must dress according to Sharî’ah (she should wear a loose garment that covers the entire body without revealing the shape of the body).
- She should not beautify herself. (she should not apply make-up and perfumes)
- Any type of communication with non-Mahram males will only be to the extent of necessity and not more (i.e. no joking and laughing will be permitted at all in any form, she should not speak to non-Mahram males in a soft and attractive voice which can cause the inclination of men towards her; rather she should speak in a stern voice to them).
- she should only go out to the extent of necessity and not more.
- If she has to travel more than 78km, one of her Mahrams (a person she is not allowed to get married to e.g. brother) will have to accompany her.
2. Working in conventional banks
It is difficult for us to comment with regards to your current job because we are unaware of the details and duties of your job as a project manager. However, we would like to outline the Shar’i ruling with regards to working for a conventional bank. The Shar’i ruling with regards to working in a bank is that employment in a conventional bank is not permissible because the employee is going to be directly involved in carrying out, writing or being witness to Interest based transactions the prohibition of which is clear and explicit in the holy Quraan and Hadith.
After the above opening statements that underline the rulings with regard to a Muslim woman working and working in a conventional bank, we will now focus on your queries: -
As far as you leaving your house for working is concerned then based on the afore-mentioned, you will only be permitted to do so on the pretext of necessity. Hence, if you are the sole breadwinner of the house and you do not have any other male who may earn and provide for you, you will fundamentally be permitted to leave the home but under the proviso that you observe the rules of Hijaab and that there is no other feasible alternative of earning income from home. However, if you have a brother or any other close family member, he would be obliged to take care of you needs and you should remain at home if he is willing to fulfill his Islamic duty.
The contemporary scholars state that if you are already working there, you should make a concerted effort to find another means of income. As soon as you find an alternative means of income, you will have to leave the bank. However, you could continue working until your loan is paid off and you should focus on paying your loan off as quickly as possible.
In the meantime (i.e. while looking for another source of income) the salary acquired from the bank can be used for your needs. However, at the same time one should continuously repent to Allah Ta'aala for involving yourself in a Haraam venture and you should sincerely make Duaa to Allah Ta'aala that He grants you another job.
Remember! Allah Ta'aala mentions in the Noble Qur’aan:
Allah Ta'aala shall create an escape (from difficulties) for the one who fears (disobeying) Allah Ta'aala (one who has Taqwa) …and Shall provide for him (what he requires) from sources that he never expected (to receive provision from). Allah Ta'aala is sufficient (to solve all problems) for the one who trusts in Him (who is convinced that only Allah Ta'aala can assist him). (Allah Ta'aala can certainly solve any problem a person has because) Allah Ta'aala certainly brings (all) His affairs to completion (as he He will) and Allah has a set measure for everything (therefore, things happen when He decides). (A person who trusts in Allah Ta'aala knows that Allah Ta'aala will solve his problems when Allah decides that the time is right.) [Surah Talaaq:2 &3]
We would like to mention few Duas mentioned in the blessed Ahaadeeth of our beloved Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to help in re-paying loans:
اللهمَّ اكَْفِنِِْ بَِِلَالِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَأغْنِنِِْ بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
O Allah Ta'aala , suffice me with lawful livelihood adequate to my needs instead of ill-gotten livelihood, and graciously grant me freedom from needing anything from anyone besides Yourself.
اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكُ الْمُلْكِ , تُؤْتِِ الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ , وَتَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مَِِّنْ تَشَاءُ , وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَاء , وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ , بِيَدِكَ الَْْيِْْ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُ ل شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ , رَحَْْانُ الدُّنْيَا وَالْْخِرَةِ , تُعْطِيهُمَا مَنْ تَشَاءُ , وَتََْنَعُ مِنْهُمَا مَنْ تَشَاءُ , ارْحَْْنِِ رَحَْْةً تُ نِْْينِِ اَِِ عَنْ رَحَْْةِ مَنْ سِوَاكَ
O Allah! You give dominion to whomsoever you will and You take dominion away from whomsoever You will, You exalt whomsoever You will and You bring low whomsoever You will. In Your hand is all goodness and You are able to do all things. in the Hereafter, You give them to Most Merciful and Most compassionate in this world and whomsoever You will and withhold them from whomsoever You will. Bestow mercy upon Me in such a manner that I have no need of the mercy of anyone but You.
Lastly, our advice is that in order to learn correct Deen, you should consult the local Ulama of your town. This is the best method to acquire Deeni knowledge. You should try your utmost to stay away from YouTube etc. because one is not aware as to whether he/she is receiving the knowledge of Islaam from a reliable source or not and moreover, one is not aware whether he/she is receiving the correct knowledge of Islaam or not. We make Dua to Allah Ta'aala to grant you ease and may He grant us the ability to become His true servants. Aameen
AND ALLAH Ta'aala ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST
ANSWERED BY: Abdullah Badat
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
Islamic Date:2 شعبان 1440 English Date: 8 April 2019