Working for companies that deal with Riba
18-10-2003 | IslamWeb
Question:
I should stress that Insha Allah, I will avoid work for banks because it's Haram. But as you know many companies in Canada and throughout the world have loans with banks and even when you are charged to assess the viability of a project you use interest rate as a discount rate. I think that my future job will consist maybe of studying possibilities of value creation for shareholders and in this sense many companies use the deductibility of interests as leverage. Also following the emission of stocks and bonds in the stock exchange. In all cases, the nature of my job will depend on the needs of the company that will recruit me Insha Allah. Allah knows that I'm doing my possible to find a totally Halal job. I don't know if it is possible to call me. I think that discussion of phone will better help you to give out a Fatwa.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, know that everything the person will get in this life (livelihood, maintenance, blessing, …) has already been determined and prescribed by Allaah. So, the Muslim should only seek that which is lawful in his transaction and his search for gains. The person's livelihood should all be from lawful sources. Indeed, what is forbidden is a cause of deprivation while Taqwa (piety) is a cause of success and easiness of matters. So, do not hasten to join a company which has doubtful earnings and wait until you get a company that stays away from forbidden dealings.
As for working in studying of value creation for shareholders, its rule follows the rule of working in stocks in general. Some scholars hold the opinion that it is lawful to deal in stocks if the company, the person is working for, does not deal in anything forbidden like Riba (interest and/or usury) transactions, making forbidden things or depositing one's money in Riba banks. No doubt that the above conditions cannot be met in Canada, America and Europe. This is because companies in such countries either take Riba loans from the banks or deposit their money in them. Such companies also deal in Riba, gambling, high risks, …etc. Even if we suppose that you can find a company there that meets the Sharee’ah conditions, it is unlawful for you to use interest rate in any study as this is the same as acknowledging Riba transactions. So, we advise you to have trust in Allaah, seek His Help and do your best to get a lawful job. Stay away from Riba companies as to avoid being a writer or witness of Riba or helping in sin and transgression.
Allaah Knows best.