Fatwa ID: 07799
Answered by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
Is my income haram if my employer pays me with a portion of their wealth that is haram. My work is halal and has nothing to do with the income earned by my employer.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The permissibility of a job and its income in Islam depends on two key factors:
- Nature of the Job: The work itself must be halal (permissible). If the job involves activities prohibited by Shariah—such as dealing in alcohol, engaging in usury (riba), or participating in haram transactions—it is considered unlawful (haram) regardless of the source of the salary.
- Source of Income: The salary must come from a halal source. If the job is permissible, but the salary comes exclusively from haram funds (e.g., stolen money or entirely from interest earnings), accepting such income would still be impermissible.
For example, in the case of working for a bank, a job that involves direct participation in interest-based transactions (like a clerk or cashier handling riba) is haram. This is supported by hadiths where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cursed those involved in usury, including the payer, receiver, scribe, and witnesses:
Jabir said that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said: They are all equal. [Sahīh Muslim 1598]
However, if the job has no direct involvement with riba (e.g., as a guard, cleaner, or cook), it is considered permissible, though it is better to avoid in that context. This is because the income is mixed: the bank’s funds typically consist of a combination of depositors’ money, the bank’s capital, and interest income. Much of this mix is usually from lawful sources.
In “Contemporary Fatawa,” Shaykh Muhammad Taqi Uthmani addresses the permissibility of working in financial institutions, particularly banks. On pages 418-449, he discusses the implications of employment in roles directly involved with interest-based transactions, such as managerial positions, cashiers, and clerks. Shaykh Uthmani emphasises that such positions are impermissible due to their direct engagement with riba (usury), which is explicitly prohibited in Islam. He references hadiths where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cursed those who partake in usury, including the payer, receiver, scribe, and witnesses. Conversely, he notes that roles within banks that do not involve direct dealings with interest, such as security guards or maintenance staff, are permissible, though it is preferable to avoid them to maintain a higher level of piety.
Therefore, if the job itself is halal and does not directly engage with interest-based transactions, the income can be accepted. Nonetheless, it is advisable to seek alternative employment where the source of income is entirely pure, to avoid any doubts or detested (makruh) situations. However, if someone already works in a position directly involved with riba, scholars recommend finding a halal job first before resigning, to ensure financial stability. The effort to seek a lawful alternative demonstrates sincerity in avoiding prohibited earnings.
[See: Contemporary Fatawa by Shaykh Taqi Usmani, pp. 418-449]
In summary, a job involving direct participation in haram transactions is impermissible. However, if the work itself is halal and does not involve riba, then the income, even if mixed with some haram elements, can be accepted—though it remains superior to avoid such employment where possible.
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ .
آكِلُ الرَّبَّا وَكَاسِبُ الْحَرَامِ أَهْدَى إلَيْهِ أَوْ أَضَافَهُ وَغَالِبُ مَالِهِ حَرَامٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ، وَلَا يَأْكُلُ مَا لَمْ يُخْبِرْهُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ الْمَالَ أَصْلُهُ حَلَالٌ وَرِثَهُ أَوْ اسْتَقْرَضَهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ غَالِبُ مَالِهِ حَلَالًا لَا بَأْسَ بِقَبُولِ هَدِيَّتِهِ وَالْأَكْلِ مِنْهَا، كَذَا فِي الْمُلْتَقَطِ.
ص343 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – الباب الثاني عشر في الهدايا والضيافات – المكتبة الشاملة
https://muftitaqiusmani.com/ur/wp-content/uploads/en-books/Contemporary_Fatawa.pdf
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
