What is the ruling on borrowing from Nasser Social Bank out of necessity, knowing that the bank does not charge interest but deducts administrative fees?
If the loan is interest-free, and the administrative fees represent the actual cost of the services provided for the loan, then there is no objection to it, based on the resolution of the Islamic Fiqh Academy that "fixed fees unrelated to the loan amount or duration in exchange for this service" are not usury. Any increase beyond the actual services is prohibited.
However, if the loan involves usurious interest, even if called administrative fees, then it is prohibited. For in contracts, what matters are the meanings, not the words. True administrative fees are characterized by being fixed and not changing with the loan amount, unlike usurious interest which is a percentage of the loan amount and increases with its increase.
If it is proven that these fees are usurious interest, then this loan is not permissible except out of necessity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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