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Fatwa CenterWorking in interest-based company to gain experience for working in Islamic banks
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. My question is regarding employment in the financial sector. I have a background in finance and am curently working for a financial data provider. Allaah willing, I want to work in Islamic banking in the near future. However, most Islamic banking jobs require experience now, especially in the banking sector. My specialization is risk management. This involves analyzing the risk of portfolios and helping to prepare reports for supervising institutions, and it does not involve moving money, making investment decisions, or providing direct investment advice. I currently have an opporunity to apply for a job at a conventional asset management company in Germany, which also invests in bonds and derivative instruments. Can I work for this company with the intention of gaining experience and moving on to Islamic banking after a couple of years? Please consider that there are no opportunities in Islamic banking in Germany, at least for now. I really appreciate your quick response, as I have to make up my mind soon. May Allaah reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If the work of the company is based on interest financial asset management, then it is not permissible for you to work in it, even in what does not include the transfer of funds or investment or advisory decisions, because it is forbidden to deal directly with interest or to help in it; Allaah says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 5:2]
Besides, the Prophet said, “Allaah has cursed the one who consumes interest, the one who gives it to others, the one who records it, and the two who witness it (its transaction).” He said, “They all are the same (in sin).” [Muslim]
The curse is not limited to the one who consumes it or gives it to others to consume, but it also includes the one who helps in it.
Having the intention of gaining experience to work in an Islamic bank does not make that lawful for you, as discussed in fataawa 84884 and 92657.
On the other hand, if the company's work is not restricted to usurious asset management, but it is among its activities and it has other lawful activities, then there is nothing wrong in working in some of those activities that have nothing to do with what is forbidden nor help in it.
Finally, we remind you that the means of lawful earnings are numerous for whoever seeks them, and whoever leaves something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah compensates him with something better; Allaah says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah – He will make for him a way out and will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]
Allaah knows best.
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