Fatwa ID: 07434
Answered by: Maulana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Question:
Can you work as an accountant in an insurance company?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) has mentioned;
“Cursed those who are involved in usury; whether it is the person who is giving usury, receiving it, writing the transaction or witnessing it.” [Sahih Muslim 1598]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) explains that the previously mentioned narration applies specifically to those who directly participate in drafting an agreement and preparing the document to record an interest-bearing transaction.
This does not include individuals, such as accountants, who merely record these transactions later and were not involved in the original deal.
An accountant who documents these interest-bearing transactions as a past event, without direct involvement in the transaction itself, does not fall under the warning mentioned in the Hadith.
Thus, it is permissible for them to do so, and the salary they earn is considered halal.
However, it is preferable to avoid working in a bank, as one cannot predict what tasks they may be asked to perform, including involvement in transactions that may not comply with Sharia law, thereby working alongside unlawful activities.
«صحيح مسلم» (5/ 50):
عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: « لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُؤْكِلَهُ، وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: هُمْ سَوَاءٌ ».
«فتح الباري» لابن حجر (4/ 314 ط السلفية):
«وَقَالَ بن التِّينِ لَيْسَ فِي حَدِيثَيِ الْبَابِ ذِكْرٌ لِكَاتِبِ الرِّبَا وَشَاهِدِهِ وَأُجِيبَ بِأَنَّهُ ذَكَرَهُمَا عَلَى سَبِيلِ الْإِلْحَاقِ لِإِعَانَتِهِمَا لِلْآكِلِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَهَذَا إِنَّمَا يَقَعُ عَلَى مَنْ وَاطَأَ صَاحِبَ الرِّبَا عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَّا مَنْ كَتَبَهُ أَوْ شَهِدَ الْقِصَّةَ لِيَشْهَدَ بِهَا عَلَى مَا هِيَ عَلَيْهِ لِيَعْمَلَ فِيهَا بِالْحَقِّ فَهَذَا جَمِيلُ الْقَصْدِ لَا يَدْخُلُ فِي الْوَعِيدِ الْمَذْكُورِ وَإِنَّمَا يَدْخُلُ فِيهِ مَنْ أَعَانَ صَاحِبَ الرِّبَا بِكِتَابَتِهِ وَشَهَادَتِهِ»
«شرح القسطلاني = إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري» (4/ 28):
«لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا وموكله وشاهده وكاتبه، وفي رواية الترمذي بالتثنية وهذا إنما يقع على من
واطأ صاحب الربا عليه أما من كتبه أو شاهد القصة ليشهد بها على ما هي عليه ليعمل فيها بالحق فهو جميل القصد لا يدخل في الوعيد المذكور.»
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Sheik Abdel Ahaad Imrit
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
