Fatwa ID: 09390
Answered by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Question:
Asalamualikum !
Can we use credit cards ( either EMi or non EMi ) for purchasing online , as there are many bank offers 10-15% from banks especially on credit cards . Although we donot pay interest , we pay it before the deadline without paying interest . Is it permissible to use credit cards for such scenarios ?!
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Interest-free lending and borrowing is permissible, however, the paying and receiving of riba (interest) is haram. A debt only becomes haram once the debtor owes (or a creditor receives) riba (interest), and an EMI credit card which results in the payment of interest would also be haram. It would be permissible to use a credit card if you can ensure that your activities will not result in the paying of interest, and that no interest will be paid into your account. Although one should keep in mind that it would be much safer to use other payment methods which do not run the risk of resulting in riba, such as a debit card.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Muftiyah Maryam Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
(بَابُ الرِّبَا)
…فَلِذَلِكَ عَرَّفَهُ شَرْعًا بِقَوْلِهِ (فَضْلُ مَالٍ بِلَا عِوَضٍ فِي مُعَاوَضَةِ مَالٍ بِمَالٍ) أَيْ فَضْلُ أَحَدِ الْمُتَجَانِسَيْنِ عَلَى الْآخَرِ بِالْعِيَارِ الشَّرْعِيِّ أَيْ الْكَيْلِ وَالْوَزْنِ
Al-Bahr Al-Rāiq (Vol.6, pg.135, Dār Al-Kitab Al-Islami)
وَلَوْ صَالَحَ عَلَى أَكْثَرَ مِنْ حَقِّهِ قَدْرًا وَوَصْفًا، أَوْ قَدْرًا لَا وَصْفًا لَا يَجُوزُ؛ لِأَنَّهُ رِبًا
Badā’i’ Al-Ṣanā’i’ (Vol.6, pg.45, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah)