Does Calculating Interest for Clients Make Legal Work Unlawful?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it permissible to work in medical negligence law if compensation includes interest for delayed payment, given that the aim is to restore the claimant’s losses rather than provide unfair gain?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Thank you for your question.

It will be impermissible for you to work in medical negligence law if you have to record and calculate interest on delayed payments.

The nature of the job must be lawful (halal), meaning if the work involves anything prohibited in Shari‘a, such as serving alcohol, or recording and calculating interest transactions, then this kind of work will be unlawful.

Allah Curses all Involved in Interest

‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Allah has cursed the one who consumes usury, its client, its witness, and its scribe. Usury and adultery do not become widespread among people, but they will become vulnerable to the punishment of Allah Most High.” [Musnad Ahmad]

This hadith clearly shows that the initial writing and preparation of interest documents invoke Allah’s curse, making anything related to this impermissible. [Usmani, Contemporary Fatawa]

I would like you to read the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related: Working as an Accountant When Interest Transactions Are Involved

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.