Is my job permissible? If it’s assisting in sin…

1- I work in retail and my job is to set up an account with customers. With this account they get a card which gives them a credit limit of £195. So they can purchase upto that value without incurring any interest charges. If they spend more and do not pay within a month, they will be charged interest too. Is my job haram?

2- I also have to, sometimes, set up coverplans, i.e., if someone buys a tv and wishes to take out a coverplan, I would have to set that up for them. Now this coverplan means if the product breaks down we can replace it for the customer. The customer has to buy this coverplan from us. Please help.

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

1) Your job in itself is permissible, although better to avoid if reasonably possible. The reason being is that, this will not be called directly assisting another in sin, thus permissible.

The great Hanafi jurist, Allama Ibn Abidin (Allah have mercy on him) states:

“If you are the main and direct cause for a sin (meaning if the cause would not have been present, there was no reason for the sin to occur), it will be unlawful (haram) otherwise it will be disliked (makruh).” (Radd al-Muhtar)

Thus, it is unlawful to do that which is a direct and main cause for a sin. If one’s action indirectly leads another to a sin, then that is disliked (makruh).

Allah Most High says:

“Help you one another in righteousness and piety, but help you not one another in sin and rancour.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, 2)

Your job is to open up an account for the client, that which gives him a credit card with a possibility that the client may default in his payment, hence be involved in interest.

If a client spends more than his/her limit and does not pay in time, then this will be considered his/her own action and cannot be attributed to you. It is something that is done without your involvement, thus will not be considered assisting in sin.

Having said that, it would be better to avoid such a job, for one should refrain also from actions that may lead others to sin.

2) Cover plans are generally permissible. See the archives at www.sunnipath.com 

And Allah knows best

Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
Darul Iftaa, Leicester