Is it permissible to work for an accounting firm whose clients are banks, insurance & alcohol companies?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Respected Brother,

As an accountant, your duty is to do audits, prepare financial and tax reports and other such activities. In doing so, you are not directly involved in the impermissible action. Hence, the fees received by your clients will be permissible.

The second issue is the source of your remuneration. If the company is only involved in auditing banks and insurance companies and does not involve itself in preparation of any documents that will be used in the actual insurance or interest transactions, then their affiliation with such clients is permissible. Hence, your income will be permissible.[1]

However, if the company is directly involved in the insurance or interest transactions of their clients, then their source of income is impermissible. In principle, if more than half of the company’s income is from impermissible sources, it is not permissible for you to receive any remuneration from them. However, if half or more of the company’s income is from permissible sources, your salary is permissible.[2] [3]

You may refer to the following link for some guidelines and beneficial advices by Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Uthmaani (Madda Zilluhu) for accountants:

http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/7872.html

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdullah Noorgat

Student Darul Ifta

South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai