Ruling On Availing Free Services Without Specific Account Balance?

 

Ruling On Availing Free Services Without Specific Account Balance?

Islamic Economics Centre (DaruliftaAhlesunnat)

(Dawateislami-Darulifta Ahle Sunnat)

Question

   What do the scholars of Islam and the respected Muftis say regarding the issue that under an Islamic bank, a current account is opened, in which the account holders are provided with a free checkbook, free transaction services, free pay order, and free inter-banking services, all without the condition of maintaining a specific balance in the account. Is it permissible to open such a current account, and will these free services not be considered as interest (riba)?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   If the mentioned facilities are provided to all account holders, regardless of whether there is money in the account or not, then these benefits are not conditional on a loan, and it is permissible to avail these services. However, if the benefits are provided with the condition that a certain amount must be maintained in the current account, or if it is a conventional bank and the condition is that a specific amount must be in the savings account for these benefits, then availing such benefits would be impermissible and haram according to Hadith.

   Gaining profit based on a loan is haram. The Hadith states:

”كل قرض جر منفعة فهو ربا۔“

   Translation: Every loan that brings a benefit is riba (interest).(Kanz al-Ummal, Hadith 15516, Vol. 6, Page 238, Beirut)

   In "Durr-e-Mukhtar" it is mentioned:

”کل قرض جر  نفعاً حرام“

   Translation: Every loan that causes profit is haram.(Durrul-Mukhtar, Vol. 7, Page 413, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

   Allama Ibn Abidin Shami (رحمۃا للہ علیہ) writes under this statement in "Radd al-Muhtar":

اذا کان مشروطاً

   Translation: If it is conditional, then the profit is haram.(Radd al-Muhtar, Vol. 7, Page 413, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)

   When the question of gaining profit based on a loan was posed to the esteemed Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (رحمۃا للہ علیہ), he replied:

کسی طرح جائزنہیں۔

   Translation: It is not permissible in any way.(Fatawa Razawiyya, Vol. 25, Page 217, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

   Sadr al-Shariah, Badr al-Tariqah, Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali Azami (رحمۃا للہ علیہ) says:

”یوہیں( قرض دینےوالا)کسی قسم کے نفع کی شرط کرے ناجائز  ہے۔ “

   Translation: Similarly, if the lender stipulates any kind of benefit, it is impermissible.(Bahar-e-Shariat, Vol. 2, Page 759, Maktaba al-Madinah, Karachi)

 

Answered By: Abu Muhammad Mufti Ali Asghar Attari Madani

Ref No: IEC-0085

Date: 27th Rabi' al-Awwal 1445 AH / 14th October 2023

Translated by Maulana Abdul wajid madani

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم