Fatwa No : 85154
Ruling on Learning a Finance Course

Ruling on Learning a Finance Course

Is it permissible for a graduate scholar from Darul Uloom Deoband to obtain a degree in Finance (Tamweel) with the intention that, after deeply understanding finance, he will protect Muslims from its harms and evils? If someone studies finance, he has to study, write about, and understand interest-based transactions and calculations, but he neither participates in them nor gives testimony in favor of interest. I have read in Al-Balagh by Mufti Taqi Usmani that as long as you are not involved in it, studying and writing about it is permissible. Your detailed answer will be beneficial for me. The reason I want to pursue this degree is that nowadays many Muslims are involved in finance — some follow the correct method, while others are completely on the wrong path. There is a dire need for proper guidance, and without a proper understanding of finance and interest-based transactions, guidance is not possible. Correcting Muslims’ current mistakes and providing future solutions will be very difficult without this course.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

Without doubt, learning the mentioned course for the purpose of explaining the reality of interest, highlighting its evils, and warning against it is permissible and correct; however, it is necessary to avoid interest-based transactions and any involvement in them.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

قال اللہ تعالی: الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ( سورۃ البقرۃ ایۃ 275)۔
و فی الدرالمختار: واعلم أن تعلم العلم يكون فرض عين وهو بقدر ما يحتاج لدينه. وفرض كفاية، وهو ما زاد عليه لنفع غيره. ومندوبا، وهو التبحر في الفقه وعلم القلب. الخ (1/42)۔