Is a loan provided by a company permissible (halal) or forbidden (haram) if it requires signing a promissory note that includes interest for late payment (even though deductions are made directly from the salary), and signing a clause that prohibits disclosing company secrets or working for competitor companies for five years after repaying the loan, with a large financial penalty in case of violation?
The question comprises several matters:
1. The late payment penalty on a loan is usury (riba), and it is impermissible to undertake a loan that includes this condition.
2. The company's condition for an employee not to disclose its secrets is permissible; in fact, it is obligatory even if the company does not stipulate it.
3. The company's condition prohibiting an employee from working for another company for five years has two cases:
It is valid if the prohibition is during your period of employment with the first company or if it would lead to a deficiency in their work.
It is invalid if the prohibition is after your contract has ended or at a time that does not conflict with their work, because it is a condition without a purpose.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/67962
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 67962
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy