A man works in a company that deals in riba; should he leave his job there?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Regarding a person who is a manager in a company. This company has established a financial portfolio, involving funds and a large sum of money. This person learned that there was an objection to entering into riba-based avenues, so he came to me to ask.
The Shaykh: Good.
The questioner : Should I stay in this company? Or do you think I should leave my responsibility in this portfolio? Through our discussion with him... it became clear that with the presence of this man, he might be able to direct this portfolio, not entirely, but for example, forty-five million or forty million of the total portfolio amount, toward genuine investment avenues, away from the rest of the amount, which is investment in financial instruments that may include some riba-based avenues. So, is it obligatory for this person, who has this ability to influence this portfolio in this direction, while some avenues remain in an investment where riba is mixed in, to purify himself and leave this company's portfolio, or should he stay and strive to correct the course of this portfolio?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the answer must be immediate withdrawal after it becomes clear to him that this company deals in riba. But nevertheless, I have a question in my mind about what you mean by the word "portfolio" in your question? I mean, does this company not deposit its money in the bank?
The questioner : The mixing of riba, where does it come from, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, I am not asking you about that.
The questioner : It does not deposit its funds.
The Shaykh : That is the answer. So where does it keep its money? This large amount of money, which amounts to millions, where is it kept?
The questioner : Let us say it kept it in the Kuwaiti Treasury... in Kuwait.
The Shaykh : Pardon me, I do not like to search in hypotheticals; I prefer reality; because you are asking a question to address a real situation!
The questioner : It is the reality.
The Shaykh : I want to know what happened.
The questioner : No, it is currently in the formation stage, and he wants to know whether he should proceed or withdraw?
The Shaykh : Okay, but the question will still remain standing!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And the answer is urgent for him. As long as this matter is not yet a reality but will happen; will one of the characteristics of its occurrence be that this money, which amounts to millions, is deposited in the bank or deposited elsewhere? The planning must include this point first, as the first stage. And what I imagine today is that it is impossible for a group—especially if their wealth is vast—to be unable to gather their money with a person they trust! They must transfer this money to the bank. And if that is the case, then the Levantine saying applies: "Call it unemployment!"
The questioner : Oh Shaykh, this bank does not have the capacity to...
The Shaykh : My dear, I am saying right now, do not specify a bank for me. Are you saying that it keeps this with some partners or in the bank?!
The questioner : It is kept in an Islamic bank.
The Shaykh : A bank, you say? You scared me with this word.
Another questioner : I heard your opinion on the issue of deferred sale; we use the word "funds," meaning according to our concept of banks.
The Shaykh : Okay, good, but when you deposit this money in the bank, and let us say as you said, we agree with you in the Islamic bank, fine.
What does the Islamic bank do with these vast funds? What does it do with the millions? Do you know that it deals with them in a Sharia-compliant manner?
The questioner : I need more detail, Shaykh.
The Shaykh: Please proceed.
The questioner : First, regarding these funds, it depends on the people in charge of these funds, and the entry of this person—God willing—will influence this direction.
The Shaykh : My brother, I have already answered you on this, and I will answer you with another phrase: "The end does not justify the means." We want to see if this work is based on a Sharia foundation or on a violation of the Shari'ah? If it is based on a violation of the Shari'ah, then your saying that he can change things over time does not justify him cooperating in evil!
The questioner : The principle is to return to the foundation; what are the legal components of this?
The Shaykh : Of this company.
The questioner : And through this, the ruling is not... so consequently, if in your opinion, if the basic components of this portfolio have the possibility of entering into avenues?
The Shaykh : Distinction.
The questioner : Its meaning.
The Shaykh : Absolutely not, that never justifies it, never.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And beware of that.
The Shaykh: Good.
The questioner : Should I stay in this company? Or do you think I should leave my responsibility in this portfolio? Through our discussion with him... it became clear that with the presence of this man, he might be able to direct this portfolio, not entirely, but for example, forty-five million or forty million of the total portfolio amount, toward genuine investment avenues, away from the rest of the amount, which is investment in financial instruments that may include some riba-based avenues. So, is it obligatory for this person, who has this ability to influence this portfolio in this direction, while some avenues remain in an investment where riba is mixed in, to purify himself and leave this company's portfolio, or should he stay and strive to correct the course of this portfolio?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the answer must be immediate withdrawal after it becomes clear to him that this company deals in riba. But nevertheless, I have a question in my mind about what you mean by the word "portfolio" in your question? I mean, does this company not deposit its money in the bank?
The questioner : The mixing of riba, where does it come from, Shaykh?
The Shaykh : No, I am not asking you about that.
The questioner : It does not deposit its funds.
The Shaykh : That is the answer. So where does it keep its money? This large amount of money, which amounts to millions, where is it kept?
The questioner : Let us say it kept it in the Kuwaiti Treasury... in Kuwait.
The Shaykh : Pardon me, I do not like to search in hypotheticals; I prefer reality; because you are asking a question to address a real situation!
The questioner : It is the reality.
The Shaykh : I want to know what happened.
The questioner : No, it is currently in the formation stage, and he wants to know whether he should proceed or withdraw?
The Shaykh : Okay, but the question will still remain standing!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : And the answer is urgent for him. As long as this matter is not yet a reality but will happen; will one of the characteristics of its occurrence be that this money, which amounts to millions, is deposited in the bank or deposited elsewhere? The planning must include this point first, as the first stage. And what I imagine today is that it is impossible for a group—especially if their wealth is vast—to be unable to gather their money with a person they trust! They must transfer this money to the bank. And if that is the case, then the Levantine saying applies: "Call it unemployment!"
The questioner : Oh Shaykh, this bank does not have the capacity to...
The Shaykh : My dear, I am saying right now, do not specify a bank for me. Are you saying that it keeps this with some partners or in the bank?!
The questioner : It is kept in an Islamic bank.
The Shaykh : A bank, you say? You scared me with this word.
Another questioner : I heard your opinion on the issue of deferred sale; we use the word "funds," meaning according to our concept of banks.
The Shaykh : Okay, good, but when you deposit this money in the bank, and let us say as you said, we agree with you in the Islamic bank, fine.
What does the Islamic bank do with these vast funds? What does it do with the millions? Do you know that it deals with them in a Sharia-compliant manner?
The questioner : I need more detail, Shaykh.
The Shaykh: Please proceed.
The questioner : First, regarding these funds, it depends on the people in charge of these funds, and the entry of this person—God willing—will influence this direction.
The Shaykh : My brother, I have already answered you on this, and I will answer you with another phrase: "The end does not justify the means." We want to see if this work is based on a Sharia foundation or on a violation of the Shari'ah? If it is based on a violation of the Shari'ah, then your saying that he can change things over time does not justify him cooperating in evil!
The questioner : The principle is to return to the foundation; what are the legal components of this?
The Shaykh : Of this company.
The questioner : And through this, the ruling is not... so consequently, if in your opinion, if the basic components of this portfolio have the possibility of entering into avenues?
The Shaykh : Distinction.
The questioner : Its meaning.
The Shaykh : Absolutely not, that never justifies it, never.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And beware of that.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.