Working as an IT Technician in a Haram Company
Assalamu alaikum,
I have been offered two different opportunities to work for Guaranteed Rate and American Express as an IT Technician. One is a mortgage company and the other is a financial services company that offers credit cards. Would it be Haram to work for these companies because of the riba involved?
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Working in the IT department entails setting up and maintaining the software and ensuring that the computer systems run smoothly.
As such, the duties of both jobs would not have a direct link with the usurious transactions of the company. Hence, the income received from both jobs will be Halal.
However, since it is obvious that the outcome of your services will be used for Haram, there will be a sin for assiting in sin. Hence, if you are able to get a job in which there is no wrong, it is better to take that job.
However, if there are no other alternatives, and you need the income, you may accept the job in either of these companies, but you should continue looking for another job, and you should constantly repent.
References
لو أن مسلما آجر نفسه ليعمل في الكنيسة و يعمرها لا بأس به لأنه لا معصية في عين العمل (فتاوى قاضي خان – 3 /330)
لو باع الكرم وهو يعلم أن المشتري يتخذ العنب خمراً لا بأس به إذا كان قصده من البيع تحصيل الثمن، وإن كان قصده تحصيل الخمر يكره، و أغراس الكرم على هذا إذا كان يغرس بنية تحصيل الخمر يكره وإن كان لتحصيل العنب لا يكره، والأفضل أن لا يبيع العصير ممن يتخذه خمراً (فتاوى قاضيخان- 3 / 116)