Short answer
Jobs that deal directly with interest or conventional insurance, such as arranging loans, recording interest agreements or selling policies, are haram in the mainstream Hanafi view. Jobs with no direct link, such as security, cleaning or general IT, are permitted but disliked, and it is better to move on when you can. Islamic banks and takaful firms are judged by their own contracts.
Direct work in interest or conventional insurance transactions, whether arranging, drafting, recording, witnessing or selling them, is haram, based on the hadith that curses the writer and witnesses of riba. Indirect work is permitted with dislike (makruh), and its salary is not haram.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The hadith that curses the one who takes riba also curses the one who writes it and the two witnesses. Those who make an interest contract happen share in its sin, even if they gain nothing from the interest. The Quran forbids helping in sin (5:2).
Jobs muftis treat as direct, and so haram:
- Loan officers, mortgage advisers, credit analysts and underwriters of interest loans.
- Staff who draft, approve, record or collect interest agreements.
- Insurance agents and brokers selling conventional policies, and underwriters pricing them.
- Treasury and investment roles dealing in interest-bearing bonds.
Jobs treated as indirect, permitted but disliked: security, cleaning, maintenance, reception, general IT support and similar roles that serve the building or the systems as a whole. Many muftis advise even these staff to look for other work over time, since most of a conventional bank's income is interest.
If you are in a direct role now, do not walk out with no income if your family depends on you. Start looking for halal work with a firm intention, ask Allah for a way out (65:2 to 3), and see the dua for a job. Ask a mufti about your exact role and about past earnings.
Working at an Islamic bank or a takaful company is permitted when their products are genuinely Shariah compliant. The four schools agree that taking part in riba contracts is haram.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:2
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿٢﴾
O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allah or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of ihram, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
Helping to make an interest or gambling contract is helping in sin.
Quran, Surah At-Talaaq 65:2-3
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ﴿٣﴾
And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
Leaving haram work for Allah's sake is met with His provision.
Sahih Muslim 1598
Sahih... آكل الربا وموكله وكاتبه وشاهديه وقال هم سواء ...
"He cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who pays it, the one who writes it and its two witnesses, and said: they are all the same."
Those who write and witness riba contracts share the sin.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Ijarat, Bab al-Ijara al-Fasida. Hiring someone to do a sinful act is not valid.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Ijara, on hiring for unlawful work. Wages for work that is itself sinful are not lawful.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.