Pix Card
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Fatwa No. ( 12429 )
Q: What is the ruling on purchasing and using the discount card (Pix)? A letter was received from His Excellency, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi International Business Center Group, explaining the objectives and benefits of the aforementioned card. The text of the letter is as follows: I would like to inquire about commercial services we provide, as there are those who doubt that it might be a forbidden or disliked act. Therefore, please allow me to explain to your eminence, with clarification and detail, the nature of these services, so that the matter is clear to your eminence and you may inform us of its permissibility, prohibition, or dislike. May Allah reward us with the best reward. O honorable scholar: After extensive research into commercial markets and the prices of goods and services provided by institutions to consumers, we found that consumers pay large sums, and that it is possible to find a means to save on these expenses incurred by consumers, especially those with limited income. We strived and, by the praise of Allah, succeeded in inventing a means to convince merchants to participate with us in this goal, in a practical and modern way that aligns with the era of renaissance and progress we live in. This means is a card recognized by the merchant and carried by the consumer, which we named the (Economic Family Card) and abbreviated the name to the commercial name: (Pix Card). This name means: it is a card carried by everyone, and we made it accessible to all, and set a symbolic price for it that covers the expenses we incur. Its price is only one hundred and fifty riyals. Here is an explanation of its objectives, benefits, and our commitments to its subscribers: First: Objectives: A- Alleviating the burdens of living for the citizen, resident, and visitor to this noble country and all Arab and Islamic countries that currently or in the future accept this card. B- Directing the consumer to purchase his needs without extravagance, and there is no need to stockpile what he does not need due to temporary seasonal discounts. C- Focusing the benefit for those with limited income. D- Preparing and accustoming the generation of the future to saving. Second: Benefits of the card: A- Saving effort and time in searching for the places from which one wishes to purchase, by providing a directory of all participating locations for all his needs, where the address and discount percentage are clarified for him, and he chooses accordingly. B- The subscriber does not need seasonal discounts, as he enjoys discounts throughout the year, and if they exist, he also benefits from them. C- He can obtain discounts for the entire duration of his subscription with us, in various cities of the Kingdom and other countries, and he can currently benefit from our services in no less than two thousand stores. The door of subscription with us for merchants is open and not exclusive to one merchant over another; the important thing is that he has the desire to commit to alleviating the burdens of living for the consumer. D- The subscriber saves no less than a third of his income per year. If we assume that a subscriber’s monthly income is three thousand riyals, his annual income is thirty-six thousand. If his average saving with us is only 30%, his saving becomes (10,800) ten thousand and eight hundred riyals annually, in exchange for his subscription to the card for one year, with a symbolic subscription fee of one hundred and fifty riyals. Third: Our commitments to subscribers: A- We commit to following up, supervising, and ensuring that all stores are committed to the discount. B- Resolving any problem the subscriber faces from the merchants. C- Paying the discount percentage if the merchant refuses to do so. D- Providing the subscriber with all new information from the stores throughout the duration of his subscription,
(Economic) and we shortened the name to a trade name, which is: (Pix Card). This name means: it is a card carried by everyone, and we made it accessible to all, and we set a nominal price for it that covers the costs we incur, and its price is only one hundred and fifty riyals. Here is an explanation of its objectives, benefits, and our commitments toward its subscribers: First: Objectives: A- Alleviating the burdens of living for the citizen, resident, and visitor to this noble country, and all Arab and Islamic countries that currently or in the future accept this card. B- Directing the consumer to purchase his needs without extravagance, and there is no need to stockpile what he does not need due to temporary seasonal discounts. C- Focusing the benefit for those with limited income. D- Preparing and accustoming the generation of the future to saving. Second: Benefits of the card: A- Saving effort and time in searching for the places from which one wishes to purchase, by providing a directory of all participating locations for all his needs, where it clarifies the address and the discount rate, and he chooses accordingly. B- The subscriber does not need seasonal discounts, as he enjoys
discounts throughout the year, and if they exist, he also benefits from them. C- He can obtain discounts for the entire duration of his subscription with us, in various cities of the Kingdom and other countries, and he can currently benefit from our services in no less than two thousand stores. The door of subscription with us for merchants is open, and it is not exclusive to one merchant over another; the important thing is that he has the desire to commit to alleviating the burdens of living for the consumer. D- The subscriber saves no less than a third of his income per year. If we assume that a subscriber’s monthly income is three thousand riyals, his annual income is thirty-six thousand. If his average savings with us is only 30%, his savings become (10,800) ten thousand and eight hundred riyals annually, in exchange for his subscription to the card for one year, with a nominal subscription fee of one hundred and fifty riyals. Third: Our commitments toward subscribers: A- We commit to monitoring, supervising, and ensuring that all stores are committed to the discounts. B- Resolving any problem the subscriber faces from the merchants. C- Paying the discount rate if the merchant refuses to do so. D- Providing the subscriber with all new information from the stores throughout the duration of his subscription,
through all our branches and agents spread across all regions where the stores participating with us are located. E- Issuing a commercial directory every year, containing descriptions of the stores, their addresses, and the discount rate offered to him. O Noble One: This is the subject in all its details, and I hope from Allah, then from your nobility, that you will enlighten us and guide us to what is good, and may Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims, and may you remain in the protection of the Master, safe and sound, and may Allah preserve you.
A: It is not permissible to use the aforementioned card for the following reasons: First: The payment by the subscriber of the specified fee (one hundred and fifty riyals) to the company that issues the card without any consideration is a form of consuming wealth unjustly. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden the consumption of wealth unjustly, and He said:[An-Nisa 4:29], in Surat al-Nisa. Second: The use of the aforementioned card involves riba (usury or interest) in the case where the store owner refuses to give the discount and the company issuing the card pays the value of the discount to the consumer.
Third: The circulation of the aforementioned card leads to creating enmity and hatred between store owners—those participating in the discount and those not participating—because the goods of the discount stores are sold out, while the goods of those who did not participate in the discount remain unsold. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q: What is the ruling on purchasing and using the discount card (Pix)? A letter was received from His Excellency, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi International Business Center Group, explaining the objectives and benefits of the aforementioned card. The text of the letter is as follows: I would like to inquire about commercial services we provide, as there are those who doubt that it might be a forbidden or disliked act. Therefore, please allow me to explain to your eminence, with clarification and detail, the nature of these services, so that the matter is clear to your eminence and you may inform us of its permissibility, prohibition, or dislike. May Allah reward us with the best reward. O honorable scholar: After extensive research into commercial markets and the prices of goods and services provided by institutions to consumers, we found that consumers pay large sums, and that it is possible to find a means to save on these expenses incurred by consumers, especially those with limited income. We strived and, by the praise of Allah, succeeded in inventing a means to convince merchants to participate with us in this goal, in a practical and modern way that aligns with the era of renaissance and progress we live in. This means is a card recognized by the merchant and carried by the consumer, which we named the (Economic Family Card) and abbreviated the name to the commercial name: (Pix Card). This name means: it is a card carried by everyone, and we made it accessible to all, and set a symbolic price for it that covers the expenses we incur. Its price is only one hundred and fifty riyals. Here is an explanation of its objectives, benefits, and our commitments to its subscribers: First: Objectives: A- Alleviating the burdens of living for the citizen, resident, and visitor to this noble country and all Arab and Islamic countries that currently or in the future accept this card. B- Directing the consumer to purchase his needs without extravagance, and there is no need to stockpile what he does not need due to temporary seasonal discounts. C- Focusing the benefit for those with limited income. D- Preparing and accustoming the generation of the future to saving. Second: Benefits of the card: A- Saving effort and time in searching for the places from which one wishes to purchase, by providing a directory of all participating locations for all his needs, where the address and discount percentage are clarified for him, and he chooses accordingly. B- The subscriber does not need seasonal discounts, as he enjoys discounts throughout the year, and if they exist, he also benefits from them. C- He can obtain discounts for the entire duration of his subscription with us, in various cities of the Kingdom and other countries, and he can currently benefit from our services in no less than two thousand stores. The door of subscription with us for merchants is open and not exclusive to one merchant over another; the important thing is that he has the desire to commit to alleviating the burdens of living for the consumer. D- The subscriber saves no less than a third of his income per year. If we assume that a subscriber’s monthly income is three thousand riyals, his annual income is thirty-six thousand. If his average saving with us is only 30%, his saving becomes (10,800) ten thousand and eight hundred riyals annually, in exchange for his subscription to the card for one year, with a symbolic subscription fee of one hundred and fifty riyals. Third: Our commitments to subscribers: A- We commit to following up, supervising, and ensuring that all stores are committed to the discount. B- Resolving any problem the subscriber faces from the merchants. C- Paying the discount percentage if the merchant refuses to do so. D- Providing the subscriber with all new information from the stores throughout the duration of his subscription,
(Economic) and we shortened the name to a trade name, which is: (Pix Card). This name means: it is a card carried by everyone, and we made it accessible to all, and we set a nominal price for it that covers the costs we incur, and its price is only one hundred and fifty riyals. Here is an explanation of its objectives, benefits, and our commitments toward its subscribers: First: Objectives: A- Alleviating the burdens of living for the citizen, resident, and visitor to this noble country, and all Arab and Islamic countries that currently or in the future accept this card. B- Directing the consumer to purchase his needs without extravagance, and there is no need to stockpile what he does not need due to temporary seasonal discounts. C- Focusing the benefit for those with limited income. D- Preparing and accustoming the generation of the future to saving. Second: Benefits of the card: A- Saving effort and time in searching for the places from which one wishes to purchase, by providing a directory of all participating locations for all his needs, where it clarifies the address and the discount rate, and he chooses accordingly. B- The subscriber does not need seasonal discounts, as he enjoys
discounts throughout the year, and if they exist, he also benefits from them. C- He can obtain discounts for the entire duration of his subscription with us, in various cities of the Kingdom and other countries, and he can currently benefit from our services in no less than two thousand stores. The door of subscription with us for merchants is open, and it is not exclusive to one merchant over another; the important thing is that he has the desire to commit to alleviating the burdens of living for the consumer. D- The subscriber saves no less than a third of his income per year. If we assume that a subscriber’s monthly income is three thousand riyals, his annual income is thirty-six thousand. If his average savings with us is only 30%, his savings become (10,800) ten thousand and eight hundred riyals annually, in exchange for his subscription to the card for one year, with a nominal subscription fee of one hundred and fifty riyals. Third: Our commitments toward subscribers: A- We commit to monitoring, supervising, and ensuring that all stores are committed to the discounts. B- Resolving any problem the subscriber faces from the merchants. C- Paying the discount rate if the merchant refuses to do so. D- Providing the subscriber with all new information from the stores throughout the duration of his subscription,
through all our branches and agents spread across all regions where the stores participating with us are located. E- Issuing a commercial directory every year, containing descriptions of the stores, their addresses, and the discount rate offered to him. O Noble One: This is the subject in all its details, and I hope from Allah, then from your nobility, that you will enlighten us and guide us to what is good, and may Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims, and may you remain in the protection of the Master, safe and sound, and may Allah preserve you.
A: It is not permissible to use the aforementioned card for the following reasons: First: The payment by the subscriber of the specified fee (one hundred and fifty riyals) to the company that issues the card without any consideration is a form of consuming wealth unjustly. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has forbidden the consumption of wealth unjustly, and He said:
O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِThird: The circulation of the aforementioned card leads to creating enmity and hatred between store owners—those participating in the discount and those not participating—because the goods of the discount stores are sold out, while the goods of those who did not participate in the discount remain unsold. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.