Ruling on working in a law company whose field of work is financial markets

Financial markets are filled with things that are contrary to sharee’ah and often involve haraam things, such as buying and selling currencies and gold without the transaction being done hand to hand between the two parties, or dealing with some systems such as the FOREX and Margin (for the rulings on these please see the answer to question no. 93334; dealing with these is haraam); buying and selling shares in companies and factories that deal in haraam things; buying and selling shares in banks and organizations that are purely riba-based; and many other things. 

If a person works in a company or organization that supervises transactions in the financial markets or other places in which Allaah is disobeyed, such as hotels and tourist resorts, he will not be free of taking part to some extent in sin, and will be helping in sin and transgression, especially if his job is directly involved in organizing haraam actions or dealing with interest (riba). 

Allaah has forbidden the Muslim to disobey Him, and He has also forbidden him to help the sinner in his sin. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):  

“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”

[al-Maa’idah 5:2]

Hence from looking at the nature of this work that this company does, we do not think that it is a permissible job, rather it is haraam, because it directly involves recording riba and recording sin and disobedience. This not only has to do with the work of the company itself, rather the company asked about is a law firm that takes care of the interests of its clients and defends them, and seeks their dues of their money, which may be money that involves pure riba. Its work is also not free of other things that are contrary to sharee’ah, because of the nature of its licence as a law firm. All of its work is based on man-made laws, not on sharee’ah, so how can it be halaal work? 

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said: It is not permissible for a Muslim to work in a bank or organization or company or for any individual who deals in riba, because of the evidence which indicates that riba is haraam, as is helping with riba. There are many jobs, and if a person fears Allaah, He will make things easy for him. The wording of the hadeeth is: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who pays it, the one who writes it down and the two who witness it, and he said: they are all the same.  Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh. Al-Bukhaari narrated part of it from Abu Juhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with him) with the words: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the woman who does tattoos, the woman who has them done, and the image-maker. End quote. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (15/49). 

For information on the ruling on working as a lawyer, please see the answers to questions no. 9496 and 82799. 

You should look for another job, and stop thinking about working in this company. We ask Allaah to compensate you with good for your strong faith and to grant you goodly provision in this world. 

And Allaah knows best.