Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

ALSALM 3LEKOM WA RA7MAT ALLAH WABRAKATOH,
Thank you for replying for my q about working in Banks
as i said before i graduated from the faculty of Economics .but as u said working in banks is haram.so iwould like to work in an Islamic bank but the only chance i found is working in credit department in a non islamic bank, but they will give me a very respectful training in analysing for about 1 year,but with a commitment to work for them for 5 years.
so what i`m asking about>can i take this course or training with them and stay for 5 years with them and then moving for an islamic bank and then i will have a good experences and i can benfit the islamic bank and of course islamic bussiness.
u can ask why u don`t go for the islamic bank from the begining? iwould say it is very diffuclt to work for a bank in egypt. so i wearced for long time /(about 2 years) and i didn`t find because they always ask for experiences or to be a relvant for any manger
also i want to tell u that the analysising in islamic and non islamic bank is the same .because u just want to know is this project worth or not

thank you
(plz answer me quickly because i have to sign the contract next sunday)

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Answer:

Training in interest based bank

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The thing that Allah Subhanah has specifically declared ‘haraam’ and absolutely forbidden is the taking and consuming of ‘riba’ (interest or usury).

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 274-276: But those who devour ‘riba’ become like the one whom Shaitaan has bewitched and maddened by his touch. They have been condemned to this condition because they say, “Trade is just like ‘riba”, whereas Allah has made trade halaal and ‘riba’ haraam. Henceforth, if one abstains from taking ‘riba’ after receiving this admonition from his Lord, no legal action shall be taken against him regarding the ‘riba’ he had devoured before: his case shall ultimately go to Allah. But if one repeats the same crime even after this, he shall go to Hell, where he shall abide for ever! Allah deprives ‘riba’ of all blessing and develops charity, and Allah does not like an ungrateful, sinful person.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.1 Narrated by Umar bin Al Khattab

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions; and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.”

Working in a conventional bank, although it would not be akin to consuming or devouring ‘riba’ per say, it would definitely imply that one is a ‘partner in crime’ of those who indulge in the business of taking ‘riba’. But if your intention is take some experience for a limited time, and in the future take this experience and benefit the concept of Islamic or halaal banking or business; Allah Subhanah will reward you for your deeds according to your intentions.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan