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Fatwa CenterUsing Credit Cards in Non-Muslim Countries
Question
asalakum alakum i am from non Islamic country. i have credit card from non Islamic bank riba based bankif i will do shopping from this credit card bank does not charge me interest till period of 50 days means if i will pay in this time there is no interest after that period is over bank charges interest if payment is not made in full amount till grace period is over (eg) 50 days should i hold this credit card or close this credit card because there is conditionwhen i have applied this credit card terms and condition were written below if you fail to pay the full payment till its grace period of 50 days after that interest should apply on your amount which you have spendkindly guide what to do
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If you need to use this credit card because it is difficult to carry cash or because the shops that you deal with condition that buying should be paid by credit cards and the like, then there is no harm in keeping this card and benefitting from it in accordance with the resolution of the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) about the use of Visa cards.
The resolution reads: “The question is about the use of such cards outside the Islamic world, and in a country where no Islamic banks exist. What is the religious ruling of using such cards? Most of the contemporary scholars, as far as we know, hold that using them is permissible only in case of dire need and valid necessity, provided that the (card) holder pays the due amount on time before the expiration of the grace period so as to avoid any usurious interest charges because of the delayed payment, and will accordingly bear the sin of engaging in an usurious transaction. This is the common practice of Muslims in western countries and no scholar, whose opinion holds considerable authority in this regard, has criticized this practice. It is a required condition that the card holder does not use the card if he does not have any money in his bank account..." [End of quote]
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 394303, 296455, and 329110.
Allah knows best.
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