Al-Rajhi Credit Cards and the Loan That Yields a Benefit

The questioner:
Returning to the topic of credit cards, what I mentioned may apply to credit cards issued from abroad, yes. But as far as I know, for example, the credit cards issued by Al-Rajhi—and I have tried them a little—when you buy from stores, the invoice comes for the same amount you paid, with no increase in the amount. Yes, there may be an annual fee for issuing the card, and sometimes the bank—meaning, the fees are waived if your dealings are good and your account balance is high. So what is your opinion on dealing with it specifically if a person goes from here with an Al-Rajhi card, for example, and continues to use it there?

The Shaykh:
You are saying that Al-Rajhi does not take an increase; it takes from you what it paid to the stores, but it has no benefit from you?

The questioner:
Mm.

The Shaykh:
It did not do this except for the benefits it gets from you. It took the fees from you at the start, and it has benefits from you in that you deposit with it. It lent to you and paid the stores, and it recovered the loan and took something from you, but the benefits come from before. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said . It is not the stronger view that Al-Rajhi is doing these works as a calculation for the sake of Allah, absolutely not; rather, it did them for the interests that came to it or that it hopes for. It lent to you and paid on your behalf, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said . So this is not permissible. Yes.