Back to search

Is it permissible to use credit cards that include the condition of tawarruq for debt repayment? Is this considered "dissolving a debt into a debt"? And is it permissible to charge fees for these cards?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is not permissible to involve the client in a Tawarruq transaction to settle an uncovered credit card debt, because this constitutes prohibited "reversal of debt" (qalb al-dayn), regardless of whether the client is solvent or insolvent. This is similar to the Riba of Jahiliyyah, "Either you pay Riba or you repay," or "Increase me [the debt], and I will grant you time."

Furthermore, organized Tawarruq, which the bank undertakes itself without the client taking possession of the commodity and selling it, is prohibited Tawarruq. The resolution of the Islamic Fiqh Academy states that anything that leads to an increase in the debtor's debt in exchange for an extension of the term, or serves as a pretext for it, is considered "فسخ الدين في الدين" (faskh al-dayn fi al-dayn), which is religiously forbidden.

Therefore, the aforementioned method of settling credit card debt is impermissible for two reasons: 1. It constitutes prohibited "reversal of debt" (qalb al-dayn). 2. The bank utilizes organized Tawarruq in this process, which is prohibited.

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

Read the full answer on Ftawy