I found a job at a bank, and circumstances forced me to work there due to the scarcity of jobs, knowing that the bank deals in riba (usury or interest) and I acknowledge its prohibition.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh: And upon you peace.
The questioner : Is Shaykh Muhammad al-Albani present?
The Shaykh : He is with you.
The questioner : May Allah greet you, our master!
The Shaykh : May Allah greet you.
The questioner : Our master: As for me, I am in a problem, I mean a calamity. I ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to enable you to solve it!
The Shaykh: Amen.
The questioner : Our master: To save time, I say: Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has afflicted me by facilitating for me work in one of the banks, and I know with full knowledge that Allah has made selling lawful and has forbidden riba (usury or interest).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : But the circumstances I went through made me accept working in a humbled state, and these circumstances are primarily due to my father, who insists on my continuing to work given the difficulty of finding an alternative job opportunity. This is because of the many troubles my father and I faced in obtaining this job. I remained unemployed for nine months after graduating from university, and after we knocked on every door, only this one was opened to us. So I got the job through a connection, due to the scarcity of jobs and the prevailing custom in our society, which is: connections. Also, because I was unable to perform military service, which prevented me from other jobs I would have held, due to the suspension of military service. So I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to accept my repentance.
The Shaykh: Amen.
The questioner : And I am sincere in my repentance. I desire to be sincere to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and I desire sincere repentance, as I know with full knowledge that working in banks is forbidden by the Shari'ah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:[Al-Baqarah 2:275].
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : But I am confused about my situation, as if I think about leaving the job, I will face great difficulties with my father. I previously submitted my resignation for a reason other than this, and he faced me with severe anger and threatened to expel me, knowing that my father is in a state of financial ease and does not need my salary at all, despite being unemployed, due to having other sources of income. I mean, my salary does not affect the income he receives.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : He can live without my salary. However, I do not care about being expelled from the house; I mean, it is not important to me whether he expels me or not; it is not a problem. I desire to be sincere to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), but I am afraid, I am afraid of being cast out.
The Shaykh: From whom.
The questioner : Being cast out.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : But I am afraid of becoming homeless, as I have not found another job opportunity. Also, I am afraid of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for myself if I am cast out. Knowing that I currently contribute to the household expenses with an amount equal to approximately half my salary, and I give my mother money to help her meet her needs and the needs of my siblings. I also support a brother of mine who has been out of work for a year and a half. He used to work in the General Security Directorate, but illness prevented him from continuing to work. So he is now facing great difficulties with my father, and the father does not spend a single penny on him. When my brother fell ill, I took charge of his treatment in one of the hospitals, as the father categorically refused to pay a single penny. After all this, I ask Allah the Most High, the Almighty, to guide you, O our noble Shaykh, to a solution that pleases Allah the Exalted in this calamity of mine. And may Allah reward you with the best reward for me and for the Muslims?!
The Shaykh : O my brother, may Allah bless you. The solution to the problem is in your hand.
The questioner : Please, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The solution is in your faith.
The questioner : Please, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : If you are, as we think, a believer.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : And if you are sincere in your repentance and return to your Lord (Blessed and Exalted is He), first: how old are you?
The questioner : My age is approximately twenty-four years!
The Shaykh : Twenty-four years. Do you have a mother?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, what is your mother's position regarding your father's stinginess?
The questioner : By Allah, O our Shaykh, my mother has no power or strength. Even the house lives in hell; everything in it is hell. I mean, we cannot talk to him, nor can we approach him through persuasion. He is never convinced, I mean.
The Shaykh : Okay, do you have uncles? Do you have maternal uncles?
The questioner : There are maternal uncles, but they are not in a better situation than me.
The Shaykh: Allah is the Greatest!
The questioner : And my uncles, I mean, none of them can take care of me.
The Shaykh : What did you say regarding military service?
The questioner : Military service is currently suspended, I mean, no decision has been made regarding it. I have not currently served in the military.
The Shaykh : Okay, can you travel?
The questioner : To where?
The Shaykh : That is another matter to consider.
The questioner : I am ready to travel if there is good in it, if Allah wills, and if there is good for my religion and my family.
The Shaykh : O my brother, this is another point. May Allah bless you. You just answer the question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Can you travel?
The questioner : I can travel with the approval of the security authorities.
The Shaykh : It is like this, the question we are asking you, what does it mean that you can?! I mean, against the state, no.
The questioner : Yes, I can travel. I am not prohibited from traveling.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is the answer. May Allah bless you.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you, O our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Okay, so then.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I believe, O my brother, that all this introduction in which you explained.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Your personal circumstances between you and your father, and between you and yourself, and between you and your sick brother, and so on.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : These are, I mean, excuses that have no value whatsoever from the Shari'ah perspective.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I do not know if you remember with me the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[At-Talaq 65:2-3]. Do you remember this verse?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, and without doubt, with your remembrance of it, you believe in it!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : There is no doubt.
The Shaykh : So how do you justify your continuation in the disobedience of Allah, and indeed in fighting Allah (Mighty and Majestic), with this riba-based work, with those excuses, while you read this verse and believe in it as you said?!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, you have no excuse at all. So I asked you, can you travel? Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned in the Qur'an for such an occasion:[An-Nisa 4:97]?!
The questioner : Okay, O our Shaykh, migration requires someone to help you migrate, I mean, I am currently.
The Shaykh : O my brother, may Allah guide you. Fear Allah in yourself. You are saying you helped your brother.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So do you want help from others?!
The questioner : Helping my brother is financial help, I mean, it is what I am able to do. But for travel, I do not know personally, I mean, I do not know a person?
The Shaykh : For what purpose, O my brother? Are you not a citizen with the freedom to travel and reside wherever you wish?!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So what help? I did not understand you?!
The questioner : The help: that a person takes my hand, takes me to another country, or to another land, takes my hand, provides me with work.
The Shaykh : O my brother, may Allah guide you. Travel, travel, rely on Allah. Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Al-'Ankabut 29:69].
The questioner : And how good is that with Allah.
The Shaykh : The important thing is that you take the means and rely on the Lord of Lords. Do you think that the entire matter is in the hand of the servant?! No, the entire matter is in the hand of the Lord (Blessed and Exalted is He). But the person must move. In movement there is blessing, and completion is from Allah.
The questioner : Okay, O our Shaykh: what is the first step I take currently?
The Shaykh : That you get rid of your father who insists on fighting Allah!
The questioner : Okay, who takes care of my mother? Who strives for her needs?!
The Shaykh : He!
The questioner : Regarding spending on her, I mean, currently my father is negligent in spending on her, I mean, even at the level of spending on household expenses.
The Shaykh : Okay, may Allah guide you. And can you spend on your mother now?
The questioner : I can spend from what is in my hands.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is haram (forbidden), it is not permissible. Why are you contradicting yourself?! Do you think you did well to your brother when you treated his illness with haram (forbidden) money?!
The questioner : It is undoubtedly haram (forbidden) money, but this is what is in my hand. If I had a second opportunity.
The Shaykh: My brother, may Allah bless you. I have advised you, and you are free to do as you please without blame, to go back and forth and change your location. However, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is not unaware of any hidden matter on earth or in the heavens. As long as your father is like this, you have no way out except to leave this country, even if it is to another village in your country of Oman, or to Aqaba, or to Irbid, or to whatever else. Whoever walks the path will arrive.
The questioner: Yes, yes, my Shaykh. May Allah bless you, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And may Allah bless you, if Allah wills.
The questioner: May Allah bless you and reward you with a thousand good things.
The Shaykh: And I hope for you a near relief.
The questioner: May Allah bless you. Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh: And upon you peace.
The questioner : Is Shaykh Muhammad al-Albani present?
The Shaykh : He is with you.
The questioner : May Allah greet you, our master!
The Shaykh : May Allah greet you.
The questioner : Our master: As for me, I am in a problem, I mean a calamity. I ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to enable you to solve it!
The Shaykh: Amen.
The questioner : Our master: To save time, I say: Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has afflicted me by facilitating for me work in one of the banks, and I know with full knowledge that Allah has made selling lawful and has forbidden riba (usury or interest).
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : But the circumstances I went through made me accept working in a humbled state, and these circumstances are primarily due to my father, who insists on my continuing to work given the difficulty of finding an alternative job opportunity. This is because of the many troubles my father and I faced in obtaining this job. I remained unemployed for nine months after graduating from university, and after we knocked on every door, only this one was opened to us. So I got the job through a connection, due to the scarcity of jobs and the prevailing custom in our society, which is: connections. Also, because I was unable to perform military service, which prevented me from other jobs I would have held, due to the suspension of military service. So I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to accept my repentance.
The Shaykh: Amen.
The questioner : And I am sincere in my repentance. I desire to be sincere to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and I desire sincere repentance, as I know with full knowledge that working in banks is forbidden by the Shari'ah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest
وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَاThe Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : But I am confused about my situation, as if I think about leaving the job, I will face great difficulties with my father. I previously submitted my resignation for a reason other than this, and he faced me with severe anger and threatened to expel me, knowing that my father is in a state of financial ease and does not need my salary at all, despite being unemployed, due to having other sources of income. I mean, my salary does not affect the income he receives.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : He can live without my salary. However, I do not care about being expelled from the house; I mean, it is not important to me whether he expels me or not; it is not a problem. I desire to be sincere to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), but I am afraid, I am afraid of being cast out.
The Shaykh: From whom.
The questioner : Being cast out.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : But I am afraid of becoming homeless, as I have not found another job opportunity. Also, I am afraid of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) for myself if I am cast out. Knowing that I currently contribute to the household expenses with an amount equal to approximately half my salary, and I give my mother money to help her meet her needs and the needs of my siblings. I also support a brother of mine who has been out of work for a year and a half. He used to work in the General Security Directorate, but illness prevented him from continuing to work. So he is now facing great difficulties with my father, and the father does not spend a single penny on him. When my brother fell ill, I took charge of his treatment in one of the hospitals, as the father categorically refused to pay a single penny. After all this, I ask Allah the Most High, the Almighty, to guide you, O our noble Shaykh, to a solution that pleases Allah the Exalted in this calamity of mine. And may Allah reward you with the best reward for me and for the Muslims?!
The Shaykh : O my brother, may Allah bless you. The solution to the problem is in your hand.
The questioner : Please, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The solution is in your faith.
The questioner : Please, our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : If you are, as we think, a believer.
The questioner : If Allah wills.
The Shaykh : And if you are sincere in your repentance and return to your Lord (Blessed and Exalted is He), first: how old are you?
The questioner : My age is approximately twenty-four years!
The Shaykh : Twenty-four years. Do you have a mother?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, what is your mother's position regarding your father's stinginess?
The questioner : By Allah, O our Shaykh, my mother has no power or strength. Even the house lives in hell; everything in it is hell. I mean, we cannot talk to him, nor can we approach him through persuasion. He is never convinced, I mean.
The Shaykh : Okay, do you have uncles? Do you have maternal uncles?
The questioner : There are maternal uncles, but they are not in a better situation than me.
The Shaykh: Allah is the Greatest!
The questioner : And my uncles, I mean, none of them can take care of me.
The Shaykh : What did you say regarding military service?
The questioner : Military service is currently suspended, I mean, no decision has been made regarding it. I have not currently served in the military.
The Shaykh : Okay, can you travel?
The questioner : To where?
The Shaykh : That is another matter to consider.
The questioner : I am ready to travel if there is good in it, if Allah wills, and if there is good for my religion and my family.
The Shaykh : O my brother, this is another point. May Allah bless you. You just answer the question.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Can you travel?
The questioner : I can travel with the approval of the security authorities.
The Shaykh : It is like this, the question we are asking you, what does it mean that you can?! I mean, against the state, no.
The questioner : Yes, I can travel. I am not prohibited from traveling.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is the answer. May Allah bless you.
The questioner : Yes, may Allah bless you, O our Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Okay, so then.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I believe, O my brother, that all this introduction in which you explained.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Your personal circumstances between you and your father, and between you and yourself, and between you and your sick brother, and so on.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : These are, I mean, excuses that have no value whatsoever from the Shari'ah perspective.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : I do not know if you remember with me the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا * وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Okay, and without doubt, with your remembrance of it, you believe in it!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: All right.
The questioner : There is no doubt.
The Shaykh : So how do you justify your continuation in the disobedience of Allah, and indeed in fighting Allah (Mighty and Majestic), with this riba-based work, with those excuses, while you read this verse and believe in it as you said?!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, you have no excuse at all. So I asked you, can you travel? Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned in the Qur'an for such an occasion:
Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?
أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَاThe questioner : Okay, O our Shaykh, migration requires someone to help you migrate, I mean, I am currently.
The Shaykh : O my brother, may Allah guide you. Fear Allah in yourself. You are saying you helped your brother.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So do you want help from others?!
The questioner : Helping my brother is financial help, I mean, it is what I am able to do. But for travel, I do not know personally, I mean, I do not know a person?
The Shaykh : For what purpose, O my brother? Are you not a citizen with the freedom to travel and reside wherever you wish?!
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : So what help? I did not understand you?!
The questioner : The help: that a person takes my hand, takes me to another country, or to another land, takes my hand, provides me with work.
The Shaykh : O my brother, may Allah guide you. Travel, travel, rely on Allah. Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) says:
And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways
وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَاThe questioner : And how good is that with Allah.
The Shaykh : The important thing is that you take the means and rely on the Lord of Lords. Do you think that the entire matter is in the hand of the servant?! No, the entire matter is in the hand of the Lord (Blessed and Exalted is He). But the person must move. In movement there is blessing, and completion is from Allah.
The questioner : Okay, O our Shaykh: what is the first step I take currently?
The Shaykh : That you get rid of your father who insists on fighting Allah!
The questioner : Okay, who takes care of my mother? Who strives for her needs?!
The Shaykh : He!
The questioner : Regarding spending on her, I mean, currently my father is negligent in spending on her, I mean, even at the level of spending on household expenses.
The Shaykh : Okay, may Allah guide you. And can you spend on your mother now?
The questioner : I can spend from what is in my hands.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is haram (forbidden), it is not permissible. Why are you contradicting yourself?! Do you think you did well to your brother when you treated his illness with haram (forbidden) money?!
The questioner : It is undoubtedly haram (forbidden) money, but this is what is in my hand. If I had a second opportunity.
The Shaykh: My brother, may Allah bless you. I have advised you, and you are free to do as you please without blame, to go back and forth and change your location. However, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is not unaware of any hidden matter on earth or in the heavens. As long as your father is like this, you have no way out except to leave this country, even if it is to another village in your country of Oman, or to Aqaba, or to Irbid, or to whatever else. Whoever walks the path will arrive.
The questioner: Yes, yes, my Shaykh. May Allah bless you, my Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And may Allah bless you, if Allah wills.
The questioner: May Allah bless you and reward you with a thousand good things.
The Shaykh: And I hope for you a near relief.
The questioner: May Allah bless you. Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.