Question :
I work for refrigeration and air-conditioning company (Studies and Design Department). Sometimes, we are given blueprints for the air-conditioning of a usurious bank. Is it religiously permissible to work on these? In addition, is it religiously permissible to participate in providing air-conditioning services to usurious banks?
The Answer :
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
A Muslim who is keen on following the teachings of Sharia and obeying Allah should avoid doubtful matters as much as he/she can. Therefore, we (Iftaa` Department) recommend avoiding jobs that help in committing what is unlawful. This is attested to in the following verse, where Allah the Almighty Says (What means): " Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment." {Al-Mai`dah, 2}. Moreover, Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "What is lawful is clear and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and his honour blameless……….." {Related by Muslim}.
Since your work (Questioner) doesn`t directly help in committing usury or usurious transactions, then it is permissible. However, it is safer, as far as the teachings of Sharia are concerned, to avoid doing such work since Allah has given a promise that, whoever leaves something for Him, He will give something better in return. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.
