Fatwa ID: 08131

Answered by: Maulana Sakib Shadman

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Brother –

I was given an employment opportunity for an apprenticeship in financial services. It is unclear which specific area of the company I’ll work in, as this company has many services and specialties. I understand that if I’m working directly with something that is forbidden, then that is haram. However, I want to know: if it is haram to work for a company that does earn revenues from many streams that are halal and haram, is it okay to work in the halal parts of the job? I’m going to start this apprenticeship in August (inshaaAllah), both school and work, so I would like to get guidance from a scholar that understands the scope of the company and the work. This company is called AON. Thank you.

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

Answer:

It is commendable that you wish to earn a Halal income due to your fear of Allah Ta’ala.

In principle, if more than 50 percent of the company’s income is earned through Halal means, your salary from that company is considered permissible. Otherwise, if the majority of the company’s income is earned from Haram sources such as interest and insurance brokerage, it is not permissible for you to accept remuneration from them.

Of course, you must work in a department of the business which does not engage in Haram activities. Otherwise, it will be impermissible for you to work there.

As for the company “AON,” while they are a large company that provides various financial services, it seems as though their main service is insurance brokerage. If this is the case, and their main income is earned through insurance brokerage, your salary from this company will be deemed impermissible.

However, if you make additional enquiries and find that most of their income is generated from Halal avenues, then it will be permissible for you to work in an area of the company which does not directly deal with insurance brokerage and other Haram activities (i.e., Riba/usury-based activities).

It is important for you to ascertain what your role in the company involves and which department you will be working in. If your role does not involve directly assisting in Haram activities, then it is permissible for you to work at this company. But again, this is assuming that the majority of the company’s income is generated from Halal avenues. From my research, it seems as though this is not the case for AON due to its heavy involvement in insurance brokerage.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by: Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

1.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ
– Sahih Muslim 1598
Chapter 19: Cursing the one who consumes Riba and the one who pays it, Book 22: The Book of Musaqah
https://sunnah.com/muslim:1598

2.
لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ الْإِعَانَةِ عَلَى مَا لَا يَجُوزُ وَكُلُّ مَا أَدَّى إلَى مَا لَا يَجُوزُ لَا يَجُوزُ وَتَمَامُهُ فِي شَرْحِ الْوَهْبَانِيَّةِ
– حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار، ص360

3.
وَلَا تَجُوزُ الْإِجَارَةُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ الْغِنَاءِ… فَإِنَّ بِعَقْدِ الْإِجَارَةِ…
– المبسوط للسرخسي، ص38

4.
لِأَنَّ لِلْأَكْثَرِ حُكْمَ الْكُلِّ
– فتح القدير للكمال بن الهمام، ص169

5.
{وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَ ٰ⁠نِۚ}
– Surah Al-Māʾidah: 2