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Using rewards received from credit card

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

Assalaamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu.
First of sincere apologies for posting this query for the third time. However I badly need a verdict on this query.

I am using an Amex Gold charge card since 2012. In October 2016, I received this communication (annotated with START & END) from Amex as a Diwali Offer;

———————————START———————————
The American Express® 24K Gold Diwali has only one golden rule – you must start by registering here to convert all your purchases to Gold! 
Starting from 1st October to 31st October, 2016, throughout the festive season, not only will you get fabulous deals and discounts, but you will also get Tanishq Gold Vouchers worth Rs.5,000 for every Rs.50,000 of cumulative spend on your Card. What’s more, you can collect Tanishq Gold Vouchers upto Rs.20,000. Incredible, isn’t it? 
So why wait? All you have to do is register now and get ready for the gold rush.
———————————END———————————

I did register for this offer. And during that period a friend of mine was looking out for money to pay some balance for purchase of gold that he had done at a jewellery shop. I was along with him in the shop so I willingly lent my Amex card to pay off the balance amount of INR 3,20,000 towards this purchase. I sincerely had no greed for the Rs. 5000 vouchers (to make some easy bucks) and in-fact I wasn’t aware of this offer when I lent it. I did it solely to help him out of good faith.

Next In Dec 2016, I received the following communication from Amex;

———————————START———————————
Thank you for your participation in the 24K Gold Diwali Programme. You have earned Tanishq Gold voucher(s) for using your American Express® Card for purchases made during the festive season. You can redeem the below voucher code(s) at select Tanishq stores in your city. Please print this email and carry a physical copy to the Tanishq store for further redemption: (4 voucher codes)
The above voucher code(s) are worth Rs.5,000 each and will be valid for a period of 60 days from the date of this communication, without any further extension.
———————————END———————————

Links for information about the Amex Charge card;
https://www.americanexpress.com/in/content/gold-card/
https://www.americanexpress.com/in/content/credit-know-how/how-do-credit-cards-work/

I have already redeem the vouchers for gold since I did not receive a response to my queries in due time.
Questions:
1. In case of the above situation shared, who owns the gold, my friend (because he had executed the spend) or I (as I am the owner of the card) and in what proportion (full/partial/none)? 

2. I have gathered a lot of membership reward points over time using this card, it is halal/permissible for me to redeem them?

Requesting your support to help me safeguard my faith.

JazakAllah khair.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

1) You are the owner of the vouchers since they were sent to your card.

2) It is permissible for you to accept and use the reward points and vouchers received in the manner described.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Saad Haque

Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA 

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.


[1] بحوث في قضايا فقهية معاصرة للمفتي تقي العثماني -مكتبة دار العلوم كراتشي (٢/٢٤٣)

أحكام الجوائز-الجوائز على بطاقة الإئتمان 

…وعلى هذا فإن مصدر البطاقة لايعدو تجاه حامل البطاقة من أن يكون محتالا عليه أولا ثم مقرضا له عندما يسدد دينه إلى التاجر فالجائزة التي يقدمها مصدر البطاقة إلى حاملها هي جائزة من قبل القرض الي المستقرض فهو تبرع محض لا قمرا فيه ولا ربا….

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

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