Question
What is the ruling on using ATM or credit cards for purchasing and exchanging?
Answer
I say, and with God's success: Each of the two cards can be issued by a bank or a company, but the debit card allows its holder to have a balance from which the card can withdraw immediately through a specific digital system. In the case of the credit card, the holder can borrow by purchasing with it within a certain agreed amount, for example (1000) dinars, which he pays back over a full month or in installments over a year.
It is permissible to charge fees for issuing each card, whether starting or renewing it each year, and this is a fee for providing this service to the customer as long as the fees are within the customary charges for that.
Payment to the seller is usually made through another company that provides the service of opening an account for the seller, allowing it to collect on his behalf, and the money is guaranteed for him, which can be received at a specific time arranged between them. Thus, the delivery of money from the collection device of the holding company is considered delivery to the seller; because the company's hand in collecting is like the seller's hand, so it is permissible to conduct currency exchanges through it, such as buying gold, for example, because the collection through it is valid in ruling, fulfilling the condition of mutual exchange in currency transactions.
In the debit card, there is no issue in contracts; because its holder pays the price from his own money but from the subscription to the debit card service. However, in the credit card, he borrows the price he pays with his card from the issuing entity. If the loan agreement between him and this entity is usurious, requiring him to pay an additional usurious amount if he does not repay the amount by a certain date, this usurious condition leads to usury. Even if he is keen to repay before the usurious increase date, the prohibition remains due to the existence of the usurious contract between them. This is overlooked in non-Muslim countries where there are no credit cards compliant with Sharia, and a person cannot do without them due to reliance on them in commerce; thus, it is permissible to deal with them to the extent of necessity.
Our Sheikh Al-Othmani said in the jurisprudence of sales (1: 450): "If it is not possible to obtain an instant debit card, nor to contract with the card issuer to withdraw the invoice amount from the holder's account, and there is a pressing need for such a card, it is hoped that its holder is considered excused for entering into this contract, God willing, after taking all necessary precautions to avoid resorting to paying usurious interest." Some Islamic banks have issued credit cards compliant with Sharia, which lend the holder for each purchase he makes within a certain amount ceiling, and the holder repays this amount in monthly installments over a year, and God knows best.