In the Name of Allāh,

the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful

Praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our master Muḥammad, the last of prophets, on his family, and all his companions.

Resolution No. 96 (4/10) Credit Cards

The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, holding its 10th session in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 23–28 Ṣafar 1418h (28 June – 3 July 1997),

Having examined the research papers submitted to the Academy concern- ing Credit Cards,

Having listened to the discussions on the subject with the participation of Fiqh scholars and economists,

Resolves

1. Entrust the Secretariat General of the Academy with making an on-site inventory of the various conditions and conventions relating to cards issued by banks.
2. Establish a committee to study the types of bank cards to identify their characteristics and their differences, and to define their Shariah characterization, and this, after collecting enough data on cards issued by banks in the Arab, Muslim and other countries.
3. Organize a seminar to discuss this topic, in light of the previous preparations, in order to prepare comprehensive and thorough conclusions to be submitted at the next session of the

Recommendations

1. To emphasize the necessity to reformulate economic terminology regarding this subject and the Shariah purposes concerning lawful and unlawful transactions, according to their proper realities and in full transparency with regard to their content.

In this regard, it is necessary to give preference to existing terms in Shariah terminology, in order to consecrate their form and content, especially the terminology likely to have a Shariah jurisprudential impact, and thus in or- der to rectify the economic terminology and harmonize it with Fiqh termi- nology, drawing from the heritage of the Ummah and its Shariah concepts.

1. To insistently urge competent authorities in Muslim countries to forbid banks from issuing usury-based credit cards, in order to protect the Ummah from the risks inherent in usury and to preserve national economies and individual properties.
2. To establish a Shariah-based economic and financial authority to protect people from exploitation by banks and to safeguard their rights in accordance with Shariah provisions and financial policies, and to protect national economies and introduce carefully defined regulations intended to protect society from banks’ exploitation as well as to protect the Ummah from the negative effects of their

Indeed, Allāh is the Giver of success.