What do the scholars of the Din and muftis of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue, that how is to have a credit card made? Also, what is the ruling regarding using it and can one pay for Hajj via a credit card as long as one pays back the amount before any interest is applied?

Questioner: Afzal from Leicester, England


بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

It is permissible to have a credit card made when the one whom it is for has a firm intention that he will actually pay back any debt within the specified time frame, he does not allow any interest to be applied on it, and he acts upon this with firmness. In such case, it is permissible to have a credit card made and use alongside the aforementioned conditions regarding interest, just like the scholars of India have agreed upon, and one can also pay for Hajj via this method.

An objection did come up regarding credit cards, that at the time of signing up, the person whom the card is for has to agree that if he delays any payment, then he will also have to pay interest.  Therefore, due to agreeing to pay interest, this had been regarded as impermissible in terms of sharī’ah.

However, in reality on such said condition, there are 2 cases of having a credit card made:

  1. If someone pays back the debt within the specified time frame, then he will not be required to pay any interest.
  2. If someone delays paying back the debt, meaning he pays it back after the specified time frame, then he will be required to pay interest as well as the original debt.

So, when it is the intention of such a person to act upon the first case, and he actually acts upon it, then he is signing having agreed to the first case, which is totally permissible. So in this case, his main agreement is to the first case, and the second case is just in terms of words as a formality due to it not being his intention. Therefore, it is permissible for the one having a credit card made to sign the form with the intention of acting upon the first case.

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0522] Is it permissible to have a credit card? Can I use one to pay for my Hajj pilgrimage?

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