Writing Interest on Invoices

Q. I’m reading a book “40 HADEETHS”  and I came across this Hadeeth that says: “The Prophet (saw) cursed a taker of interest, a writer of interest and a place where the interest is charged…” In the  footnote is written: “Thus it is prohibited for a Muslim to work in a bank”. I work in a finance department and one of the things I work with is writing interest on invoices that are overdue. So I was wondering what is the ruling in my case?

A. It is not permissible for a Muslim to even witness a riba (interest) transaction or even write a riba invoice. If you cannot avoid or escape writing invoices of interest at your current work, then it is not permissible to continue with this employment. It is obligatory upon you to seek alternative income in the meantime, if you do not have a husband who provides for your expenses. And if you do have a husband who can provide for you then it will not be permissible for you to even leave the marital home to earn a living.