What is the ruling on distributing cards to people so that they can obtain discounts on purchases, provided that the profit margin on the goods sold does not increase?
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The questioner : One of the brothers has a bookstore where he distributes them. He says: “When you present this card, you get a special discount.” So, he distributes this card to a limited number of people. Is this permissible?
The Shaykh : It needs to be studied so that the answer is clear. Perhaps we can speak now while the food is being served!
The questioner : I ask your permission, O my master, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The system—everyone is waiting for you.
The questioner : Wait for me, I will answer in a moment.
The Shaykh : He profits by this amount, like twenty percent on it, and every book is at this rate. For example, a book whose capital is one riyal, and he sets a rule that he profits twenty-five percent, what will be the price of this book? One hundred and twenty-five, let us assume this was his system. When he printed these cards and announced this announcement, did his profit decrease or increase?
The questioner : But these cards!
The Shaykh : No, no, before that, but...
The questioner : Rare.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is the answer, may Allah reward you. It decreased. Good.
The questioner : From one aspect!
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : From one aspect it decreased, but from another aspect his profit increased.
The Shaykh : No, listen, my brother, when I asked you, did it decrease according to the system he had set up? Is it possible that it increased?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Yes, from this perspective we are speaking, because the discussion has a continuation. So, he observes this reality, which is: when he printed these cards and distributed them to some people, the total profit he used to collect from the quantity of books he was selling previously decreased. Good, if the matter is like this, then it means that in the way of advertising his bookstore and his books, he took this loss out of his pocket. The loss is on his account. But if it is the other case, and the picture is as follows, we said: the book whose price was one hundred, he was selling it for one hundred and twenty-five, so he made it one hundred and thirty. Why?
So that the loss does not come out of his pocket, but rather from the pockets of the buyers. Is this clear up to here?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Thirdly and finally: why is this picture not permissible?
Because the cardholders are the ones who will profit from the capital of the purchases of the others who buy without cards. And this is gambling. Is it clear to you now?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : Ah, and I think now there is no need to think about your statement that from another aspect he profits. This is true, but what is observed here is that this is a gamble, because most of those who deal with the bookstore owner will pay an increase over the previous price. This increase was directed by the bookstore owner to the holders of these cards. So, this increase did not come out of his pocket, but rather came out of the pockets of those who do not have cards. So, this returns to the issue of the lottery, which they call a charitable lottery, and it is shirk. Is this clear?
The questioner : It is clear.
The Shaykh : Fine.
The questioner : But if it is in the form of the first picture?
The Shaykh : Ah, there is no obstacle.
The questioner : There is no obstacle. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : It needs to be studied so that the answer is clear. Perhaps we can speak now while the food is being served!
The questioner : I ask your permission, O my master, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The system—everyone is waiting for you.
The questioner : Wait for me, I will answer in a moment.
The Shaykh : He profits by this amount, like twenty percent on it, and every book is at this rate. For example, a book whose capital is one riyal, and he sets a rule that he profits twenty-five percent, what will be the price of this book? One hundred and twenty-five, let us assume this was his system. When he printed these cards and announced this announcement, did his profit decrease or increase?
The questioner : But these cards!
The Shaykh : No, no, before that, but...
The questioner : Rare.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is the answer, may Allah reward you. It decreased. Good.
The questioner : From one aspect!
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : From one aspect it decreased, but from another aspect his profit increased.
The Shaykh : No, listen, my brother, when I asked you, did it decrease according to the system he had set up? Is it possible that it increased?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Yes, from this perspective we are speaking, because the discussion has a continuation. So, he observes this reality, which is: when he printed these cards and distributed them to some people, the total profit he used to collect from the quantity of books he was selling previously decreased. Good, if the matter is like this, then it means that in the way of advertising his bookstore and his books, he took this loss out of his pocket. The loss is on his account. But if it is the other case, and the picture is as follows, we said: the book whose price was one hundred, he was selling it for one hundred and twenty-five, so he made it one hundred and thirty. Why?
So that the loss does not come out of his pocket, but rather from the pockets of the buyers. Is this clear up to here?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Thirdly and finally: why is this picture not permissible?
Because the cardholders are the ones who will profit from the capital of the purchases of the others who buy without cards. And this is gambling. Is it clear to you now?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : Ah, and I think now there is no need to think about your statement that from another aspect he profits. This is true, but what is observed here is that this is a gamble, because most of those who deal with the bookstore owner will pay an increase over the previous price. This increase was directed by the bookstore owner to the holders of these cards. So, this increase did not come out of his pocket, but rather came out of the pockets of those who do not have cards. So, this returns to the issue of the lottery, which they call a charitable lottery, and it is shirk. Is this clear?
The questioner : It is clear.
The Shaykh : Fine.
The questioner : But if it is in the form of the first picture?
The Shaykh : Ah, there is no obstacle.
The questioner : There is no obstacle. May Allah reward you with good.