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Is a 12-week tech internship at an investment bank Shariah-compliant?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Muftisays.com
As Salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa baraakatuh

Dear Respect Ulamaa,

I would like to know whether the following job is halaal or haraam.

Many students on the second year of their course, do an internship during the summer to gain practical work experience, in an area relevent to their field of study. Participating in internship schemes are optional and does not form part of the course. However, given the competitive graduate job market, especially in the IT field, a summer internship gives an ideal opportunity to attain relevent work experience which gives an advantage when applying for graduate jobs in the final year of study.

Im studying computer science and have alhamdulilah been offered a 12 week internship at an investment bank. The majority of their income comes from haraam sources, like insurance, loans, mortgages, futures trading, options trading and other activities a typical investment bank does. The position ive been offered is with the Technology division at Citigroup in London. The EXACT details of the project is not available yet, but it is in the “Product Development” area, meaning the work involves computer programming. It is expected that the work will be lightweight. I do NOT have any plans to work permanently for a bank after graduation. The main purpose of this temporary job is to attain practical experience in order to be in an advantaged position when applying for graduate jobs this autumn. According to the shariah, is this job permissible?

May Allah (swt) reward you in the dunya and akhirah for your service to His deen.
Was salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah


Answer

Bismihi Ta’ala

As you have stated it is optional for you and not binding to work at such a placement. After all, experience can be gained at other places too. Under such circumstances, it will not be permissible to work in any department of the bank because the income gained from it would be doubtful.

And Allah knows best.

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Mufti Yaseen Shaikh

This answer was collected from MuftiSays.com, based in London (UK). It is one of the fruits of Darul Uloom London. Many ‘ulama are involved in answering the Q&A on the site, including: Shaikul Hadeeth Mufti Umar Farooq Sahib, Mufti Saifur Rahman Sahib, Mufti Abdullah Patel Sahib, Maulana Qamruz Zaman Sahib, Mufti Abu Bakr Karolia Sahib.

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