Back to search

Is dealing with a non-Islamic bank that issues a credit card with conditions that include late payment fees and interest rates if not paid within a specified period, and offers a loan option to pay for purchases, considered impermissible (haram)? And is the method of purchasing goods with this card considered an Islamic murabaha?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is not permissible to deal with usurious banks unless there is an urgent necessity, such as the unavailability of an Islamic alternative for transferring money. Dealing with credit cards from usurious banks is not permissible because they involve শরী‘আ-prohibited elements; they are an explicit usurious loan that obligates the customer to pay a late fee and interest if they delay payment. This is the essence of riba (usury), and acknowledging riba is not permissible. Furthermore, these cards expose the customer to falling into riba, whether it is the riba calculated by the bank on the loan amount or the amount the bank provides to those unable to pay. The prohibition increases if the customer buys with it intending to delay payment or withdraws cash for a fee, as all of this is explicit riba. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the one who consumes riba, the one who feeds it, its scribe, and its two witnesses.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy