Assalamu Alaikum. I am aware that there are certain complications when using a CREDIT CARD. I have decided only to use DEBIT CARDS, Alhamdhulillah. The question is My DEBIT CARD is a VISA card and has promotions and discounts in certain places. For example a purchase with an original amount of 36 Dirhams could be purchased for 17 dirhams with my card with a 50% discount. Is this permissible? My friend says its not permitted because the bank pays the seller the other 50% and the source of Income for the bank is interest so it’s not permissible. Please give me a clear answer.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
We observe you are conscious of staying away from Haraam. That stems from your consciousness of Imaan. Your attitude is praiseworthy.
The 50% discount offered to you by the bank is considered a gift. It is permissible to accept the discount offered by the Bank. [1] You are not liable of the income of the Bank.
Then too, the money stored in a bank is not all interest money, rather the income of the bank comprises of multiple avenues.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad I.V Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
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[1] عصر حاضر کے پیچیدہ مسائل اور ان کا حل جلد2 صفحہ197
بنک والے اور کمپنیوں والے کارڈ ہول ڈر کو جو انعامات دیتے ہیں ان کا لینا اور استعمال کرنا جائز ہے
فتاؤي دار العلوم زكريا جلد5 ص 380 زمزم
بنک والے اور کمپنی والے کارڈ ہول ڈر کو جو انعامات دیتے ہیں ان کا لینا اور استعمال کرنا جائز ہے
دارالعلوم دیوبند دارالافتاء،
یہ پوائنٹ کمپنی کی طرف سے تبرع و انعام ہے، اس سے ملنے والے فوائد سے منتفع ہو سکتے ہیں، گنجائش ہے۔
کریڈٹ کارڈ کے استعمال پر ملنے والے پوائنٹ پر بہ ظاہر ”سود“ کی تعریف صادق نہیں آتی، یہ محض ترغیبی انعامات معلوم ہوتے ہیں؛ اس لیے انہیں استعمال کرنے کی گنجائش ہے۔
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See the answer below given by Mufti Taqi Uthmani Hafidhallah, a world-renowned Islamic legal scholar.
Rewards on Use of Credit Card
Q.) When using credit cards, some banks give bonus miles or bonus points for purchases and some other benefits. Please clarify it if we can use it. Every month I pay off the total of account without paying an extra cent of interest.
A.) If a Credit Card is used for purchases and the bills are paid promptly without requiring to pay interest on late payment, it is permissible and the benefits given by the Credit Card Company as rewards can be availed of. It is not impermissible to benefit from such rewards.