I feel that collecting interest and paying is haraam but obtaining a salary is not interest since it is money worked for. What if a person can not find any other job and he has to mantain a family?
Conventional banks are interest bearing institutes, therefore, it is not
permissible to work in a bank. However, if a person employed there, he is
advised to search for an alternate employment. If he succeeds, he should
leave employment at the bank. The excuse that finding an alternative
employment are slim is a preconceived notion. If one decides in advance that
the alternate job has to be of a certain status, salary, benefits in the
line of the ‘so called’ standars of life, then it may be difficult indeed.
But if one was to think a little differently, induce himself to accept
comparatively reduced benefits, keeping in mind that Rizq (sustenance) free
of doubtful elements brings a great amount of Divine Barakaat (blessings),
the chances are that he will, Insha Allah, find an employment yielding much
Barakat and blessings.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.