Islam Question and Answer - Working in a programming company whose clients include riba-based banks and companies that produce alcohol

Wed 10/8/1434 - 19/6/2013

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Principles of Fiqh » Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings » Transactions » Employment for a Salary » Ruling on jobs

Working in a programming company whose clients include riba-based banks and companies that produce alcohol

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I work in an international networking company that has clients in different countries. We operate private network equipment remotely from our own location. The problem is that their clients include companies that produce alcohol and riba-based banks. Is my work haraam? Does it make any difference if I do work with these clients occasionally or regularly? If it is haraam, do I have to avoid dealing with these kinds of clients or stop working in this place altogether?.

Praise be to Allaah.

It is not permissible to offer assistance or services or programming to riba-based banks or companies that produce alcohol, because that is helping in sin and transgression, and Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2].

The one who helps another to do evil or shows him the way to it is a partner in the sin and has failed to do what Allah has enjoined of denouncing and disavowing evil.

Thus you know that it is not permissible to contribute to maintenance or programming that has to do with these haraam companies, whether that is done regularly or rarely. If you know that a client has a company that does haraam things, it is not permissible to you to provide services to him.

There is nothing wrong with you remaining in your job if you can avoid participating in haraam work. But if you can find another job that is free of the things we have mentioned, then that is better.

See also the answer to questions no. 85441 and 102923

And Allah knows best.

Islam Q&A