Ruling on developing interest-based payment systems

Walekumussalam,

In the case described, if a software engineer develops software or a payment system whose purpose or necessary outcome is to facilitate interest-based loans, calculate interest, record (document) interest, or enable the collection of interest, then developing such software is not permissible according to Islamic law. Although the programmer neither receives nor pays interest personally, and does not take any share of it, the software he develops directly assists in establishing, organizing, and implementing interest-based transactions. Therefore, this falls under the prohibition of assisting in sin, which the Shariah has explicitly forbidden.

Accordingly, in the situation mentioned in your question, if your responsibility is to develop a system through which your employer will charge or collect interest from its clients, or manage interest-based transactions, then you should refrain from undertaking such work. The income earned specifically for this work would also not be considered halal, because it is remuneration for an impermissible activity. You should request your employer to transfer you to a project that does not involve assisting with interest-based transactions. If that is not possible, you should strive, according to your ability, to find an alternative halal job.

References

The Holy Qur'an:

> ﴿وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوْا عَلَي الْاِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ﴾ (المائدہ: 2)

Translation: "And do not cooperate with one another in sin and transgression." (Bayān al-Qur'ān)

Hadith:

 “حدثنا محمد بن الصباح، وزهير بن حرب، وعثمان بن أبي شيبة، قالوا: حدثنا هشيم، أخبرنا أبو الزبير، عن جابر، قال: «لعن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آكل الربا، ومؤكله، وكاتبه، وشاهديه»، وقال: «هم سواء»”

(Sahih Muslim, Bab La'n Akil al-Riba wa Mu'kilihi, Vol. 3, p. 1219, Hadith no. 1598, Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi)

Translation: Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the one who consumes interest, the one who pays it, the one who records it, and its two witnesses, and he said: “They are all equal (in sin).”

Badā'iʿ al-Ṣanā'iʿ states:

 “ومن استأجر حمالا يحمل له الخمر فله الأجر في قول أبي حنيفة,وعند أبي يوسف ومحمد لا أجر له كذا ذكر في الأصل، وذكر في الجامع الصغير أنه يطيب له الأجر في قول أبي حنيفة، وعندهما يكره لهما أن هذه إجارة على المعصية؛ لأن حمل الخمر معصية لكونه إعانة على المعصية، وقد قال الله عز وجل {ولا تعاونوا على الإثم والعدوان} [المائدة: 2] ولهذا لعن الله تعالى عشرة: منهم حاملها والمحمول إليه…………… وبه نقول: إن ذلك معصية، ويكره أكل أجرته.”

(Kitāb al-Ijārah, Faṣl fī Anwāʿ Sharā'iṭ Rukn al-Ijārah, Vol. 4, p. 190, Dār al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah)