Working in banks and hotels dealing with Riba

21-5-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is working in the bank or hotel in an Islamic country Halal? I have a bachelor degree in financial management and almost all kinds of jobs let me calculate the Riba; in my country it is difficult to find a Halal job with this major. What does Islam says about that?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to be an employee of a bank which is not complying with the Islamic rules in its transactions; this means that it will deal in interest and other prohibited transactions. It will likely get involved in other institutions dealing in interest. Working with such an organization will be considered as helping it in the sin which will be committed. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. …} [5:2]. The Muslim should be keen to fear Allah, observe piety and seek to earn a living through the means permitted by Allah The Almighty and in this case Allah will provide him from sources he never could imagine. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. …} [65:2-3].
The same applies to working in a hotel which is involved in transactions prohibited by Islam. Unfortunately, most hotels are promoting bad fashion shows and establish discos where customers drink wine and dance to music, etc. You are to avoid working in a hotel unless it is complying with Islamic rules in its transaction and this is very rare.
Allah knows best.