Fatwa ID: 08446

 

 

Answered by: Maulana Yusuf Badshah

 

 

Question:

 

 

I am seeking guidance regarding my current job and whether it aligns with Islamic principles. I work as a salesperson for a home security company, where I sell security systems customers and customers can pay the full amount upfront or finance through a third-party lender at 0% APR for up to 60 months.

 

My role includes conducting a credit check to determine whether a customer qualifies for the 0% APR financing. The vast majority about 7 to 8 out of 10 customers are approved for this completely interest-free financing, meaning they do not pay any interest throughout the entire loan term. However, for the small minority who do not qualify, the lender offers an alternative financing plan with a fixed 9.99% interest rate. In these cases, I do not encourage them to finance and instead try to direct them toward paying upfront but they are adamant on the financing.

 

I have no communication with the lender beyond submitting the credit check, and I do not profit from the financing itself. My commission is solely based on the $85 monthly subscription fee for the security monitoring service, which customers pay directly to the company I work for. The financing is strictly for the equipment, and all payments go directly to the lender, with whom I have no involvement.

 

My concern is whether my role in conducting credit checks, which helps determine financing eligibility, is considered facilitating a riba-based transaction for the small percentage of customers who do not qualify for 0% APR. Given that I do not profit from the financing and actively try to steer customers away from interest-based loans, is my job considered halal, makruh, or haram? Am I directly involved in riba even though I have no involvement in collecting or enforcing them?

 

I want to ensure that my income is 100% halal and free from any form of riba. I would greatly appreciate your guidance on whether my role is permissible in Islam.

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

 

Answer:

 

As long as you continue to discourage those who do not qualify from accepting interest-based finance, your job and income will be permissible. You will InshaAllah be rewarded for allowing your customers to access interest-free finance and discouraging those who do not qualify from engaging in Riba.

 

 

However, the danger of being in a profession where one is regularly at risk of inadvertently encouraging or facilitating Riba means that while the job is permissible, it would be safer if you were able to seek work elsewhere.

 

 

 

References:

 

[1] Sahih Muslim 1893:

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ – وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كُرَيْبٍ – قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُبْدِعَ بِي فَاحْمِلْنِي فَقَالَ ‏”‏ مَا عِنْدِي “‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَدُلُّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ مَنْ دَلَّ عَلَى خَيْرٍ فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِ فَاعِلِهِ “‏

 

 

[2] Jami’ At-Tirmidhi 2518:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْحَوْرَاءِ السَّعْدِيِّ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ مَا حَفِظْتَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ حَفِظْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لاَ يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ ‏”‏

 

 

 

And only Allah s.w.t knows best.

Written by Maulana Yusuf Badshah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham