A common dilemma for Muslim professionals in the financial sector involves working for consulting companies that provide banking advisory services to non-Islamic institutions. When the work involves advising on loans and deposits that generate interest (Riba), employees often question whether their fixed salary is Halal and if it can be validly used to send their parents to Hajj.
Islamic economists and scholars have addressed the nuances of this specific role, distinguishing between direct engagement in interest and advisory capacities.
Distinguishing Advice from Execution
Scholars note a subtle but important distinction between directly recording interest-based transactions and merely providing advice on them. Providing advice on interest is not considered identical to “writing an interest contract,” although it is recognized as being close to it. While not explicitly classified as Haram (forbidden) in the same vein as being a witness or scribe to Riba, scholars describe it as “not the best kind of job” from a Shari’ah perspective. It is an area where caution is advised, even if it does not fall under the strict prohibition.
Validity of Income for Hajj
Based on the classification that the job is not explicitly prohibited, the compensation received for this work is viewed as permissible earnings. Since the salary is considered a valid compensation for labor, it is permissible to use these funds for religious acts.
Consequently, an employee in this sector is allowed to use their savings to send their parents to Hajj. The pilgrimage would be considered valid, and the funds are acceptable for this purpose.
