Can I Work as a Financial Assistance Decision-Maker for Others While They Use the Money to Pay Off Their Interest-Based Debts?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If I work for the government as a decision-maker, this entails me looking at the financial and personal situation of individuals to determine whether they are eligible to receive money from the government. Sometimes the individual’s situation is such that they are in debt with different companies, which means they would have to pay interest on the debts.
Would it be permissible for me to work this job, when I know they are in debt, and they will be using the money given to pay off their debts?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are well.
Yes, you would be allowed to work as a decision-maker for financial support for others. As for the money that they will now have in their possession, if they were to use it to pay off their interest-based debt, for example, it will be their decision how they spend and use it. Your decision-making has no bearing on how others use their money, and you will not be accountable.
General Accountability of Sin
In general, one has no control over the actions of others and will not be held accountable by Allah for their deeds. Allah says: “And every soul earns not (blame) except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.” [Quran, 6:164]
Related
What Are the Principles of Work and Assisting in Sin?
Are We Accountable for the Sins of Others if We Had an Indirect Role Therein?
I pray this helps in your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete hifz of Quran in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
