I work as an accountant in a company that deals with interest-based banks, so is there a sin on me?
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The questioner: I, Shaykh...
The Shaykh : The question, please go ahead.
The questioner : An accountant for a private company who balances the company's accounts. The company deals with commercial banks regarding interest. Is there a sin on him when he records the bank's interest notice in the company's ledgers?
The Shaykh : And are you in doubt about that?
The questioner : I do not know, but I know that the one who writes the notice has a sin on him, but the accountant records it in the company's ledgers and does not write it.
The Shaykh : Perhaps you have not heard of this yet. I do not say "perhaps you have heard," because if I said you have heard, you would be sinful. But I say perhaps you have not heard, so that we may free you from the sin. The sin is in what has passed, not in what remains.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And perhaps you have not heard his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:Sahih Muslim 1598 So you are writing the interest!
The questioner : Excuse me, I do not write the interest. The accountant at the bank is the one who writes the interest. I am an accountant at a company who records it after it has been written.
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah! There is no interest in what was written?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : How? Yes? Is there or is there not?
The questioner : There is interest.
The Shaykh : Fine, you are writing the interest, how is that not so?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But you might say that, and I would agree with you, but that does not free you from responsibility. Every company has a first writer and a second writer, that is it. But does that free him from responsibility? No. Can one who eats interest be an eater of interest without there being someone who feeds it to him?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Yes, but it comes to mind that the crime of the eater is more severe than the crime of the one who feeds him, correct?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : But they are partners in the burden. Therefore, I advise you to act immediately, not only to free yourself from the sin of writing interest, but also from being an employee in any company, because all companies today deal with interest. And as we said earlier regarding eating interest and the one who feeds it, we say the same about this company established on dealing with interest, and I do not say the bank. From its president to the one who sweeps the trash, they are all partners in managing this company which deals in a manner contrary to the Shari'ah and by depositing money in banks. Therefore, I advise you, and I am a sincere advisor to you, if Allah wills, to free yourself from being an employee in the company, even if you are not the second writer.
The questioner: May Allah reward you with all good.
The Shaykh : And you, and others.
The Shaykh : The question, please go ahead.
The questioner : An accountant for a private company who balances the company's accounts. The company deals with commercial banks regarding interest. Is there a sin on him when he records the bank's interest notice in the company's ledgers?
The Shaykh : And are you in doubt about that?
The questioner : I do not know, but I know that the one who writes the notice has a sin on him, but the accountant records it in the company's ledgers and does not write it.
The Shaykh : Perhaps you have not heard of this yet. I do not say "perhaps you have heard," because if I said you have heard, you would be sinful. But I say perhaps you have not heard, so that we may free you from the sin. The sin is in what has passed, not in what remains.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And perhaps you have not heard his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses
لعن الله آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديهThe questioner : Excuse me, I do not write the interest. The accountant at the bank is the one who writes the interest. I am an accountant at a company who records it after it has been written.
The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah! There is no interest in what was written?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : How? Yes? Is there or is there not?
The questioner : There is interest.
The Shaykh : Fine, you are writing the interest, how is that not so?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : But you might say that, and I would agree with you, but that does not free you from responsibility. Every company has a first writer and a second writer, that is it. But does that free him from responsibility? No. Can one who eats interest be an eater of interest without there being someone who feeds it to him?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : Yes, but it comes to mind that the crime of the eater is more severe than the crime of the one who feeds him, correct?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : But they are partners in the burden. Therefore, I advise you to act immediately, not only to free yourself from the sin of writing interest, but also from being an employee in any company, because all companies today deal with interest. And as we said earlier regarding eating interest and the one who feeds it, we say the same about this company established on dealing with interest, and I do not say the bank. From its president to the one who sweeps the trash, they are all partners in managing this company which deals in a manner contrary to the Shari'ah and by depositing money in banks. Therefore, I advise you, and I am a sincere advisor to you, if Allah wills, to free yourself from being an employee in the company, even if you are not the second writer.
The questioner: May Allah reward you with all good.
The Shaykh : And you, and others.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.