Fatwa #1920716 April 2011Pakistan
Can I do internship at the banks? How about if I dont take any salary from them?
Question
Answer
Assalāmu `alaikum Warahmatullāhi Wabrakatuh,
The principle governing working in a conventional bank will be “Assisting in Sin”.
Allah Ta’āla says
وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ…
And do not assist in sin and oppression…
(Al Qur’ān 5:2)
The core of a Conventional Bank is interest and other non-Sharī῾ah compliant deals.
If you wish to get training in the actual banking procedure, then that will fall in the category of assisting in sin. The ruling will be the same even if you do not take a salary.
If you wish to gain experience in some other department of the bank for example, a teller or any other department not related to interest dealings, then there may be a leeway for that.
And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best,
Muftī Ebrahim Desai
Daruliftaa
35 Candella Rd, Durban, South Africa