Is it permissible to obtain a credit card (Visa) issued by a bank, characterized by a fixed monthly administrative fee, the possibility of installment payments without interest, with a fixed late payment penalty on the bill and fixed fees for cash withdrawals that are paid to relief organizations, based on the bank's claim that it conforms to Islamic Sharia and that there is a fatwa to that effect?
It is impermissible to obtain the aforementioned card due to its inclusion of prohibited usury (riba), represented by the stipulated financial penalty for late payment and the amount incurred from cash withdrawals. Any increase on a debt is prohibited usury, whether it is called a penalty or anything else, and whether it is given to the poor or to others. Scholars have unanimously agreed that stipulating an increase in a loan is usury. The amount incurred from cash withdrawals is not considered administrative fees, as previous administrative fees have already been calculated, and for administrative fees to be permissible, they must be proportionate to the work and effort involved.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/72228