#1197: Ruling on the Accommodating Someone who worka in a Bank and His Contribution to running of the House

As-Salaamu Alaikum Warahmatullah…

Question

A brother asked this question and he urgently request for response due to the fear in him.. the question is as follows.

I rented a room apartment and a brother was made to join me as he has no accomodation to stay…. I accepted him wholeheartedly.. few days, I got to know that he works as a staff in one of the riba based bank as note counter. I earlier heard that working in such bank is Haram. He also believe it’s Haram but he has no other place to work at present. Now the other situation is he contribute at times to the money we used to prepare meals. I have not been comfortable with the meals as his source of income is Haram. I am always conscious of what goes in my body especially when it’s clear to me so that my daily Dua won’t be accepted.

So my worries now and question is can I still accomodate him in spite of his Haram source As regards his money, can I eat from it when we both contribute together

I will be glad to receive immediate feedback as far as Islamic view point is concerned so as to know what to do regarding my worried state.

Jazakumullahu khairan

ANSWER:

Wa Alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh.

Alhamdulillāh. May Allāh abound an abundance of His Blessings on myself and you, Āmīn.

We apologize for the delays in responding to your Question and ask Allāh to forgive our negligence and our failings in delivering the responsibility of Explanation upon the People possessed of Ilm, Āmīn.

Know O Brother, that the matter of the Banking System is one of the Fitnah that has overwhelmed the Ummah and taken it’s tolls on many of our Youths today, we ask Allāh for thabāt and Sadād, Āmīn.

Your refusal to accommodate him is an encouraged and a preferred position if it influences him and makes him to abandon such a job.

If however your informed understanding is that this will not make him abandon the job, then there is no harm in accommodating him as he is still a Muslim. The Ruling of accommodating someone who earns money by working in a Haram place is not the same as the ruling of accommodating someone who earns a Haram wealth. The Fuqahā have differentiated between wealth that is Harām and wealth that is earned through means that is Harām.

Wealth that is Harām by itself is wealth that is stolen or impounded by way of robbery or waylaying in such a way that its owner is deprived and is not happy of its taking.

Wealth that is Harām by it means is that which is taken by a means that is Harām but its owner gives it in a satisfying way, such as wealth gotten from Riba like in the case under discussion. Shaykhu Al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah discussed abundantly about this in the Fatāwa.

In the case of Wealth which is Harām by itself, it is entirely Harām to relate with it Carrier. Whosoever relates with such a person in this Harām wealth that he has gotten is regarded as an accomplice and an accessory to this Crime in the Sharīah. An example, if a thief comes to you with a Stolen Property to your knowledge that it is stolen, it is Harām to relate with him in respect of this stolen property without a doubt or that you should grant shelter to him in this sort of action of his.

In the case of Wealth gotten through Haram means, relationship with it doer is not the same as the former. This is because the wealth in question is not Haram by itself, it is Harām by it means. There is no harm in relating with it doer such as granting him accomodations and it likes. And Allāh knows best.

As for his contribution to the means of running the house, then this is to be avoided.

What we advise you is to speak to the brother and encourage him to rely on Allāh in his means of sustenance. Not to compromise his Dīn and Ākhirah due to the little remunerations of this Dunya. He should rely upon Allāh and know that if he fears Him and abide by His limits, He will surely provide for him and grant him a way out of his situation.

‌‏وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا‏

“Whosoever fears Allāh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. And give him sustenance from whence he thinks not; and whoever trusts in Allāh, He is sufficient for him; surely Allāh attains His purpose; Allāh indeed has appointed a measure for everything.”
Surah At-Talaq, Verse 2-3

About these Verses, the Rasūl salallāhu alayhi wasallam said, as was reported by Abū Dharr – radiyallāhu ‘anhu –

لو أخذ الناس كلهم بهذه الآية لكفتهم

“Had People, all of them held unto this verse, it would have sufficed for them”

May Allāh grant us Thabāt and Yaqīn, Āmīn.

Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazakumullāhu Khayran.

Abū Asīm

4th Shaʿbān 1444 AH

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