Fatwa ID: 04586

Answered by: Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia

Question

Salaams Hazrat.

My first job, I ever got was processing credit card applications for big retail companies on behalf of their customers. This is called a "retail store cards" The retail company would ask the customer to do a paper application and then would give us a call as the credit card provider to process an electronic application.
 

My job was to input the customer's information to the system and confirm the decision, which, would be one of 3: Accept/Declined/Referred.

Was the income for such a role, halal?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

Having a Halal income and a job that is a means for us to earn Halal is a vital part of our lives.

We should strive towards it and actually is very rewarding for us also.

Saiduna Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrates that the Prophet of Allah (SAW) said: “Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which he commanded the messengers.” And Allah (SAW) has said: “O you who believe! Eat of the pure things and do right.” Allah (SAW) has said: “Oh you who believe! Eat of the pure things we have provided you.” Then the Prophet of Allah (SAW) mentioned a man who journeyed far and dishelmed and dusty and spends out oh his hand to the Heavens: “O Lord! O Lord! While his food is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can his dua be answered!”(Sahih Muslim)

From what we can understand and the situation that you have mentioned, your role and income are totally ‘Halal’ and permissible as you are not directly connected with any interest-based transactions.

Allah Most High says:

“Help you one another in righteousness and piety, but help you not one another in sin and rancor.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, 2)

Your job is to open up an account for the client, that gives him a credit card with a possibility that the client may default in his payment hence be involved in interest.

If a client spends more than his/her limit and does not pay in time, then this will be considered his/her own action and cannot be attributed to you. It is something that is done without your involvement, thus it will not be considered assisting in sin.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham