Fatwa ID: 06809
Answered by: Maulana Mamunur Hussain
Question:
When someone uses a credit card, they get points according to the money they spend on the credit card bank. These points when accumulated, you can get money vouchers where you can say which companies vouchers you want. Eg, you can get £5 vouchers for Tesco, Argos etc. Would these vouchers be seen as gifts or interest?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Schemes such as the one cited above have become widespread and very popular, it is an incentive being offered by banks and companies to entice customers to use their services. They are not based on interest and usually offer a fixed percentage for the cashback return, so these schemes will be permissible for one to use.1
They will not be considered interest, rather will fall under the category of a gift. Therefore, there is no problem in using these schemes.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Mamunur Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 Radd al-Muhtar (DKI, vol 6, pg 66)
سُئِلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أُجْرَةِ السِّمْسَارِ، فَقَالَ: أَرْجُو أَنَّهُ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْأَصْلِ فَاسِدًا لِكَثْرَةِ التَّعَامُلِ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْ هَذَا غَيْرُ جَائِزٍ، فَجَوَّزُوهُ لِحَاجَةِ النَّاسِ إلَيْهِ كَدُخُولِ الْحَمَّامِ
