Is the savings program at the bank, which deducts 5% of the salary and grants a bonus that increases with the duration of participation (reaching 200% after 20 years), and is disbursed upon retirement, while half of the bonus is disbursed upon early withdrawal, considered a usurious program?
This transaction falls into one of three possibilities: an interest-based loan from the employee to the program, a deposit, or a donation. It appears that this contract is usurious (interest-based), falling under the first possibility. A loan is lending a sum of money with the condition that an equal amount be returned, without increase or decrease. If an increase is stipulated, it becomes usury (riba). This is unlike a deposit, where the hand of the depositee over the deposit is a hand of trust, not a hand of guarantee, and the depositor is not entitled to an increase. As for a donation, there is nothing wrong with it if the employee pays the money with the intention of donating, while adhering to the program's regulations. A Muslim must not work in an interest-based bank, nor participate in a program that deposits its funds in interest-based banks.
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- Original fatwa ID
- 57734
- Imported
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