!!! URGENT !!! Career question
As-salam alaykoum
I trust this email finds you in good health.
I am a Muslim living in France and passionate about halal investment in its various forms, especially in real estate. I have just graduated from a business school in France and I am looking for a job that will eventually allow me to understand and know how to manage my money and invest it in a halal manner.
I am reaching out to seek your guidance in this matter. I have recently been offered a position as a junior fund management analyst at a renowned real estate investment firm in France. And I have to give the company an answer at the beginning of the week.
I am genuinely asking for your help and guidance. Is this job (junior fund manager) a halal one ?
Perhaps @Mufti_Faraz_Adam and @Mufti_Billal can help me with this career question
Allow me to elaborate further on the responsibilities associated with the role of an analyst Fund manager offered by the company.
Approximately two-thirds 2/3 to three-quarters 3/4 of my duties entail:
- Calculating and monitoring the forecasted performance of the funds
- Monitoring and controlling (valuations, cash flow management, banking ratios) + reporting
The last 1/4 to 1/3 consists of:
3) Help manage and acquire new real estate acquisitions
4) Assist in the real estate investment strategy in coordination with the Asset Manager
It is imperative to note that the organization offering me this position primarily utilizes equity financing for the acquisition of real estate assets. These funds are predominantly sourced from reputable institutions (including corporations, banks, insurance firms, and governmental entities) as well as wealthy individuals (such as family offices). However, a small fraction of the investment capital is supplemented by interest-bearing loans from banks, which raises concerns regarding compliance with halal principles. To give you a more specific idea, a significant portion of the fund, approximately 80% to 90%, is equity-based, while the remaining portion is funded through debt.
To provide more clarity, the funds managed by this company are French SCPIs. The U.S. or U.K. counterpart to the SCPI is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
Despite this small amount of debt and the tasks of my job, will my work be haram ? Please, I seek your genuine advice and clarification on whether my engagement in this role would be deemed permissible according to Islamic principles.
Your insights and guidance on this matter would be immensely appreciated.
Please let me add :
I do not intend to stay in this profession for very long. I aim to pursue this career for a short duration (6 months to 1 or 2 years max) before transitioning to a role in Asset Management or Investment within a Shariah-compliant investment company.
Unfortunately, there are no Shariah-compliant investment companies in France.
Therefore, my plan would be to start with this profession (as an analyst in fund management in Real Estate) and then move to the United Arab Emirates or another Gulf country where there are certainly Shariah-compliant investment companies in need of my profile.
Warm regards and As-salam alaykoum,
Badr
To contact me : [email protected]