Question
Is the UCount program the bank offers permissible. Rewards are given in lieu of a monthly fee of R25. A Maulana says that it is permissible because the R25 is administration fees.
Answer
The R25 monthly fee renders the program maisar (gambling). It is unlike the monthly bank charges on one's banking account. The bank charges the account-holder fees for doing his work, namely, keeping, dealing with his money and paying his accounts as instructed by him. As such the bank in terms of the Shariah is the employee of the account-holder.
On the other hand, in the UCount program, the bank gives a reward in lieu of the R25 monthly payment. It is the same as betting on horses, etc. In this case the bank is not the employee.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 28 No 01
- PDF page
- 7
Appears under ANOTHER MORON DEVIATE (approximate).