Q. Is it permissible to work for a bank, and to get a loan incurring interest?
Zafar
A. Working for a bank operating within the capitalist system may involve you in approving, arranging or facilitating usurious transactions. If it does, then this work is forbidden.
The Prophet says: "God curses the person who charges usury, the one who pays it, the clerk who writes the contract between them, and the two witnesses to the contract." As you see from this Hadith, everyone who has a role to play in such deals commits a sin. A job that involves you in incurring a sin every working day is certainly something to avoid.
Having said that, I realize that not all jobs in a bank are directly related to usury. Banks offer other services which may be fully legitimate. If one does such type of work, there is no harm in continuing that work.
On the other hand, if one is already employed in such a bank and realizes that he should leave it because of what it involves of usury, one should not leave until one has found another job, unless one can afford to do so. But if one is likely to leave one’s dependents suffering real hardship if he leaves his job before finding a more suitable one, it is better to stay while trying as best as one can to find a better job.
Getting a bank loan that incurs interest is akin to usurious transactions that the Prophet clearly indicated to be forbidden. Therefore, one must steer away from them. The only loan that has been ruled as permissible by many scholars of repute is the mortgage arrangement, in which you get a loan from a building society or a bank to buy a house for your own residence. This is permissible because it satisfies an important need and you receive more than the money advanced by the bank.
Life on other planets
Q. I am interested in astronomy and I read much about other planets, stars and galaxies, their formation and the possibility of life on any of them. May I ask what does Islam say about such possibility, or should we not pursue such avenue at all?
S. Alam, Texas
A. You may pursue your interest as far as you wish. The Qur’an repeatedly invites us to study and try to explore the universe, because such study is bound to strengthen our faith.
As we learn more about the universe we are bound to recognize that it could not have come to existence by mere coincidence, as atheist scientists claim. We will learn that it is created by God who continues to control it and conduct its affairs. The more we know about the universe, the greater our faith in God and His power. God says in the Qur’an: "In time, We will make them see Our signs in the utmost horizons (of the universe) and within themselves, so that it will become clear to them that this (revelation) is indeed the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is witness to everything?" (41: 53)
As for life on other planets or in other galaxies, the Qur’an does not tell us much about that. However, it only fits with God’s system of creation and His power that there should be other forms of life on other planets and in other solar systems and galaxies.
If we get to know about these we will be most amazed at the extent of God’s power. On the other hand, if we assume that our planet earth is the only one in the universe which supports life, we only betray our ignorance.
