What is the ruling on using commercial cards, such as bank cards (Visa) and others?

The questioner : What is the legal ruling regarding an issue that has arisen in this era, which is dealing with commercial cards like Visa and MasterCard and others?

The Shaykh : Pardon me, dealing with what?

The questioner : With commercial cards.

The Shaykh : Commercial cards.

The questioner : Like Visa cards and MasterCard, for purchasing or withdrawing cash from banks that deal with these cards.

The Shaykh : Can these cards be separated from the banks? I am not a merchant, but I imagine it is not possible, but what is your knowledge on this?

The questioner : Separating the card from the banks.

The Shaykh : I mean, is it possible to issue a card without that card being linked to one of the banks?

The questioner : No, it is not possible.

The Shaykh : It is not possible. Well, then the answer is: what is the ruling on dealing with the banks?

The questioner : What are called Islamic banks, O Shaykh?

The Shaykh : Stay away from them, Islamic banks. I do not believe there are any Islamic banks that deal according to the legal rulings of the Shari'ah. All banks may have differences; there may be a difference between, for example, a British bank and a Belgian bank, in the extent of plunging into misguidance in riba (usury or interest) and in the smallness of that. But in my opinion, there is no Islamic bank established upon pure Islam, taken from the Book and the Sunnah, and not from the opinions of the later scholars. I do not believe such a bank exists. And based on this, I imagine the answer is that it is not permissible.

The questioner : Because there are no Islamic banks, but if Islamic banks existed and this card is the basis of the transaction...

The Shaykh : When it exists, we look into the details, as was the way of the Salaf (the earliest generations).