What is the ruling on a telecommunications company deducting two riyals weekly from the customer's balance in exchange for reducing call prices, and is there a jurisprudential disagreement on this matter, along with mentioning the arguments for each opinion?

No scholar has specifically addressed the ruling on communication cards that sell a benefit and reduce prices for those who pay a fixed weekly sum. However, they do not differ from the ruling on special discount cards, as leasing is a sale of usufruct. Most contemporary scholars consider these cards forbidden if they are paid for due to the element of gharar (uncertainty). The buyer may pay money without knowing what they will receive, which makes their situation oscillate between gain and loss.

The Islamic Fiqh Academy has ruled that it is impermissible to issue or purchase discount cards for a fixed price or an annual subscription due to the gharar involved, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade bay’ al-gharar (uncertain transactions). The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ issued a fatwa prohibiting the “Teacher’s Card” for the same reason. Sheikh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen also issued a fatwa prohibiting it, considering it a type of maysir (gambling), as the transaction involves an element of contest, resulting in either gain or loss.

Dr. Khalid Al-Muslih views the relationship between the discounting entity and the consumer as a lease contract and considers these cards forbidden because the contracted benefit (the discount) is unknown.

Dr. Khalid Al-Moshaiqeh divides discount cards into three categories: 1. General discount cards: These are forbidden, and the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ has issued a fatwa prohibiting them because the benefit is not quantifiable and involves gharar. 2. Special discount cards: Such as those mentioned in the question. Some scholars have assimilated them to general cards and ruled them forbidden due to gharar. Others have permitted them, while some have conditioned permissibility on two conditions: That the discount percentage is known. That the purchases are limited to specific goods. 3. As for Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, he believes that the prohibited gharar is a probabilistic exchange where one party benefits at the expense of the other. However, if the transaction allows for both parties to benefit, which is usually the case and the intent of the transaction, then it is permissible, and any minor gharar is overlooked. Therefore, if the subscriber needs the discounted goods and benefits from obtaining them, then it is likely that both parties will benefit, and thus, purchasing the card is permissible.