Q: I work for the American Arab petroleum company in the Eastern Province in the city of Baqiq as an employee in its personnel department. I would like to inform Your Eminence that the said office performs evident Riba-based transactions that do not please Allah, His Messenger or the believers. I tried hard to explain how serious this matter is to all those in charge of such actions one way or another, but my efforts were in vain (Part No. 15; Page No. 30) and my seniors even ordered me to write this Riba-based document, but I refused persistently and told them that there is no obedience to a creature in disobedience of the Creator. However, they threatened to fire me for abstaining from performing the required job, but I told them of my desire to be transferred to another department and they refused under the pretext that I am highly experienced in my job and there is difficulty in finding the proper substitute. Based on that, I told them that I would not share in writing this Riba-based document or any similar documents. After much argument, my seniors ignored me with no answer in this matter whatsoever. It did not stop at this point, but my work colleagues try to embarrass and push me by sending the loan borrowers to my department, and I, in turn refer their papers to other employees, and this leads to arguments, disputes and even sarcastic comments that I can not bear and all I can say to them is the noble Hadith: Whoever, among you, sees something abominable should rectify it with their hand; and if you have not strength enough to do it, then you should do it with your tongue; and if you have not strength enough to do it, (even) then you should (abhor it) from your heart, and that is the least of Faith. I also tell them that Allah (Exalted be He) says, O you who believe! Eat not Ribâ (usury) doubled and multiplied and that His Messenger's said, Allah has cursed the devourer (taker) of Riba (usury/interest), its payer, its two witnesses and its scribe. And Avoid the seven great destructive sins. Riba is among these sins. I clarified to them that it rather involves seventy three sins, the smallest of them is like a man having sexual intercourse with his mother. However, they turned deaf ears to me and refused to accept the truth, because these kinds of transactions were agreed by (Part No. 15; Page No. 31) authorities in the company, and the employees are unable to refuse such orders. I enclosed with my question a copy of this usurious document which the said company deals with. I would like to inform Your Eminence that I provide for my mother, grandmother, five sisters and three brothers. I am a bachelor with an intermediate degree in education, but I have been working for seven years in this company and it is a little bit difficult for me to find another job with my degree, otherwise I would have submitted my resignation as I put my trust in Allah. Now I am wavering between doing what involves disobeying Allah or refusing to share in such usurious documents and suffering the outcomes. Peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you good Slaves of Allah. May Allah guide others through you.

A: Every loan that involves paying interest is Riba, whether they name such interest "fees" or any other names, because it is facts that are to be considered not just mere terms. So, if a person borrowed one thousand and the contract stipulates that he repays one thousand and five or more or less than five, this is a usurious and forbidden contract by Ijma` (consensus of scholars). Hence, it is not permissible for you to work in the said office which you said (Part No. 15; Page No. 32) deals with Riba, for Allah (Glorified be He) says, Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment. And it has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him), cursed the one who accepts Riba (Usury), the one who gives it, those who witness to it, and the one who writes it. He (peace be upon him) said: They are all equal. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) book of Hadith). May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.