Working in a bank and as a project manager

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

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

It is incorrect to state that working in a bank is categorically Haram.

In principle, there are two aspects which are considered before determining the Shari’ah Compliancy of a job profile.

1. The nature of the job profile/description itself.

2. The major source of the funds from which the employees of the company/bank are remunerated.

The majority of conventional bank’s financial earnings are derived from bank deposits which are permissible and lawful. [1]

The issue of working for a financial institution falls under the purview of assisting in sin. Accordingly, if the job profile does not entail direct involvement with Haram elements such as interest etc., it will be permissible to work in the bank and one’s salary will be lawful.

The duties of a project manager may vary based on individual banks, as such, one ruling cannot be passed over it. Nevertheless, the above is still the criterion for the permissibility of such a job i.e. provided one’s job profile does not entail direct assistance in Haram activities, it will be permissible to work as a project manager.

For further detail on the subject, you may refer to the following link.

http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/23092

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Bilal Yusuf Pandor

Student Darul Iftaa

Lusaka, Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

(2020-10-12)