Sharʿi Ruling on Social Relations and Eating with an Agricultural Bank Employee
Taken from: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Masāʾil al-Buyūʿ, vol.1, p.389
❖ The Question
What do the scholars say about a man employed in the Agricultural Bank, who as a scribe of interest transactions is considered accursed according to ḥadīth?
- What is the ruling for his relatives?
- Can they maintain relations with him?
- Is it permissible to eat and drink with him?
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
✔ Relatives are permitted to maintain ties with him.
✔ They may give him gifts from their side.
✖ However, it is not permissible to accept anything from him, nor to eat the food of his household.
❖ Reason
- His earnings are from ḥarām sources, as he is involved in writing interest-based contracts.
- In ḥadīth, even the scribe of ribā (interest) has been cursed.
- Thus, his income is unlawful, and benefiting from it is impermissible.
❖ Additional Guidance
- His relatives should continuously advise and remind him, encouraging him to repent sincerely and leave this impermissible employment.
Maintaining family relations is allowed, but consuming from his unlawful earnings is not permissible until he abandons this ribā-based job.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب