Ruling On Taking Part And Working In
Savings Accounts: Employment In Ar-Riba Usury
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & Answers
I am working at the postal service, specifically
in the administration of computers. The post service
gives annual interest on saving accounts. According to
the governmental system, the postal service gives the
money to the National Bank of Investment (NIB). This
bank does not deal but with the government in
financing its projects. It gives other banks and
governmental associations mortgages. Then the money
returns to us with the interest added. The NIB then
specifies the amount of interest then we add them on
the saving accounts, and we have a share for ourselves
of this. My role is to enter all the receipts of
deposits and withdrawals of customers to the main
computer. Then we add the interest in July of every
year to the customers' accounts. We also use the
computers in order to make sure of every customer's
saving account. Am I considered kaatib Riba (the
person who writes the interest)? Is the interest of
the post office saving accounts halal or haram,
knowing that we, Alhamdulillah, do not give mortgages?
Also the savings are 90% of what is being spent on the
service. Shall I leave my work, or ask to move to
another section, or it is permissible to work as I am?
.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is haraam to deposit money in savings accounts, for
two reasons:
1 – It is a contract that is based on adding a set
percentage to the capital, whilst guaranteeing that
the capital will remain intact. In fact it is an
interest-based loan, and the scholars are unanimously
agreed that every loan that brings a benefit is riba
(usury). The lender here is the customer, and the
borrower is the institution that provides these
accounts.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Every loan in which it is stipulated that more should
be paid back is haraam, with no difference of
scholarly opinion. Ibn al-Mundhir said: They are
unanimously agreed that if the lender stipulates that
the borrower must pay back more or give a gift, and he
gives the loan on that basis, then this extra payment
is riba. It was narrated that Ubayy ibn Ka'b, Ibn
‘Abbaas and Ibn Mas'ood forbade loans that bring
benefits. (6/436).
2 – The Post office puts the money received into riba-based
banks, and takes a set percentage for it, part of
which it distributes as a reward to the depositors.
This is another riba-based transaction that is done by
the post office.
The post office borrows money with riba in the first
case, and it lends money with riba in the second case.
Hence the one who examines these transactions will
have no doubt that they are haraam, and it is haraam
to work in them whether as a scribe or witness or
helping with it in any way.
In Mawsoo'at Fataawa al-Azhar, there is a question
addressed to the former Shaykh of al-Azhar, Jaad al-Haqq
‘Ali Jaad al-Haqq (may Allaah have mercy on him) about
the interest that is paid by banks or companies on the
money that is deposited or invested with them – is
this interest regarded as riba (usury) or not?
After mentioning the texts which forbid riba, he said:
Based on these texts and others in the Qur'aan and
Sunnah, all types and forms of riba are forbidden,
whether it is additional to the amount that was
originally lent, or an additional amount charged when
payment is delayed, or this additional amount is
stipulated in the contract along with a guarantee that
the capital will remain intact. As that is the case,
then the interest asked about, which is mentioned in
the contract when depositing money in the bank, and in
savings funds at the post office and banks, and in
investment certificates which stipulate a specific
return on the capital – the deposit in such cases is a
loan with interest, and comes under the heading of
riba al-fadl or riba al-ziyaadah, as the fuqaha' call
it. It is haraam in Islam, based on the general
meaning of the verses in the Holy Qur'aan and the
texts of the Sunnah, and the consensus of the Muslims.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to deal in it or
lend such loans, because he is responsible before
Allaah for his wealth, from where he acquires it and
on what he spends it, as it says in the hadeeth from
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) which was narrated by al-Tirmidhi: "A
person's feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection
until he is asked about his life and how he spent it,
about his actions and what he did, and about his
wealth, from where he acquired it and on what he spent
it, and about his body, how he used it." And Allaah,
may He be glorified and exalted, knows best. End
quote.
Secondly:
Working in "entering all the receipts of deposits and
withdrawals of customers to the main computer" comes
under the heading of writing down riba. Muslim (1598)
narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who
pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who
witness it, and he said: they are all the same.
What you must do is repent to Allaah, and hasten to
give up this work, and move to another department that
is far away from riba, or leave the work altogether,
so as to get away from this grave major sin.
Remember that if a person gives up something for the
sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with
something better than it, and that He will provide for
the one who fears Him, and He will bless him and
provide for him from sources he could never imagine.
"And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him,
He will make a way for him to get out (from every
difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never
could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah,
then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will
accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a
measure for all things"
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
May Allaah help us and you to do that which is good,
follow true guidance and attain success.
And Allaah knows best
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments