Is my Job Permissible?

Question:

I work in retail and my job is to set up an account with customers. With this account they get a card which gives them a credit limit of £195. So they can purchase up to that value without incurring any interest charges. If they spend more and do not pay within a month, they will be charged interest too. Is my job haram?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Your job is, in itself, permissible, although better to avoid if reasonably possible. The reason being is that, this will not be called directly assisting another in sin, thus permissible.

The great Hanafi jurist, Allama Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“If you are the main and direct cause for a sin (meaning if the cause would not have been present, there was no reason for the sin to occur), it will be unlawful (haram) otherwise it will be disliked (makruh).” (Radd al-Muhtar)

Thus, it is unlawful to do that which is a direct and main cause for a sin. If one’s action indirectly leads another to a sin, then that is disliked (makruh).

Allah Most High says:

“Help you one another in righteousness and piety, but help you not one another in sin and rancour.” (Surah al-Ma’idah,2)

Your job is to open up an account for the client, that which gives him a credit card with a possibility that the client may default in his payment, hence be involved in interest.

If a client spends more than his/her limit and does not pay in time, then this will be considered his/her own action and cannot be attributed to you. It is something that is done without your involvement, thus it will not be considered assisting in sin.

Having said that, it would be better to avoid such a job, for one should also refrain from actions that may lead others to sin.

And Allah knows best

[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK

Question #: 5975
Published: 26/07/2004

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