Is it permissible, Islamically, to pay the interest amount imposed by "American Express" on the overdue principal debt, and what action should be taken if that is usury, given that the cardholder would be harmed in case of non-payment?

A credit card is a document issued by a bank to an individual, enabling them to purchase goods and services without immediate payment, with the issuer committing to pay. There are two main types of American Express credit cards:

1. Regular Credit Cards (Monthly Debit): These allow the holder to make purchases and cash withdrawals. It is not a condition for the customer to have an account with the issuing bank; rather, the bank lends them a specific amount (credit line), and the holder is usually required to repay within a month. This type includes subscription and renewal fees, lending interest, and late payment interest.

2. Installment Credit Cards (Installment Repayment): These are similar to monthly debit cards, but repayment is made in installments, in the form of payments not limited to a one-month period, and interest is imposed on the customer.

Participation in a credit card is forbidden (haram) due to the presence of usurious loans and the condition of a penalty for late payment. The Permanent Committee and the two Imams, Ibn Baz and Al-Uthaymeen, have issued fatwas on the impermissibility of dealing with them because they involve contracting for and engaging in usury (riba). Sincere repentance is required for this. If it is possible to avoid paying usurious penalties, then they should not be paid. However, if harm would result from not paying them, then they should be paid, and it will be accounted for by Allah.