Firstly: Definition of discount cards
Discount cards are cards that are issued by certain entities, such as advertising and marketing companies, or tourism and travel companies, or some commercial centers, and they offer the cardholder certain discounts on the prices of goods and services at a group of companies, institutions and others. These cards fall into two categories: the first kind requires a yearly subscription fee to acquire, and the second are free cards which are gifted to the buyer to encourage them to further engage with the issuer or are given for free when a purchaser’s total reaches a certain amount [2022] See: ((Official website of Jordan's Fatwa institution - Fatwa number 3160)).

Secondly: Ruling on discount cards that require a subscription fee
It is prohibited to use discount cards that require a subscription fee, as confirmed by the Fiqh Council affiliated with the Muslim World League [2023] From the decision of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of the Muslim World League in its 18th session held in Mecca in 1427 AH/2006 AD: "After considering the submitted papers and extensive discussions, it was decided that it is not permissible to issue or purchase the discount cards in question, if they are in exchange for a fixed price or an annual subscription. This is due to their uncertainty; the card purchaser pays money and does not know what he will obtain in return. So, the loss in them is assured whilst the profit is not.". , and what the Permanent Committee of Saudi Arabia [2024] In a fatwa issued by the Permanent Committee: "The use of such a card is not permissible because of the following: firstly, the subscription payer provides a fixed amount (150 Riyals) to the card-issuing company without any compensation. This is an instance of unlawfully consuming people's money, and God, the Most High, has forbidden the unlawful consumption of money." ((Fatwas of the Permanent Committee)) (14/9). and the Jordanian Fatwa Authority have ruled on [2025] In a fatwa issued by Jordan's Fatwa institution: ((Plastic discount cards, offer coupons, and discounts issued by advertising, marketing, or tourism and travel companies, or some commercial centers, offer a specific discount on the prices of goods and services at a group of companies and institutions, and more. These cards are divided into two types: First: cards obtained for a material price through an annual subscription. Second: free cards obtained by providing them to the buyer as an encouragement to deal with them. They could also be given for free to anyone whose purchases reach a specific limit. As for the cards obtained in exchange for a physical return, they are forbidden for they include several regulated prohibitions, one of which is uncertainty and risk, so these transactions are based on risks, and in these cards there is deception, and they lead to disputes and arguments because the side responsible for issuing the card cannot oblige the centers, companies, and institutions to follow through with the discounts agreed upon." ((Official website of Jordan's Fatwa institution - Fatwa number 3160)). , this is also the position of Bin Baaz [2026] Ibn Baz said: "The ruling of this transaction is prohibition; rather, it is a form of usury; because he pays money in exchange for a discount in specific stores if he buys from them in return for this money he paid to the company." ((Fatawa Nur ala Al Darb)) (19/148). , and ibn Uthaymeen [2027] Ibn Uthaymeen, regarding discount cards obtained for a material price, said: "This is a form of gambling, about which God Almighty has said: 'O you who believe, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.' [Quran, 5:90] Gambling is any transaction based on overwhelming; either gaining or losing, this is the legal maxim in gambling." ((Open Door Meeting)) (Meeting number: 53) , because of the inherent uncertainty involved as the buyer of the card pays money but does not know what they will get in return, so they take a certain loss for a potential gain [2028] Decision of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of the Muslim World League in its eighteenth session held in Mecca in 1427 AH / 2006 AD. ((Decisions of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council in Mecca)) (p: 453). .

Thirdly: Ruling on discount cards acquired without a fee
It is permissible to use discount cards acquired without a fee, as confirmed by the Fiqh Council affiliated with the Muslim World League [2029] The Islamic Jurisprudence Assembly's decision at the Islamic World League's 18th session held in Mecca in 1427 Hijri (2006 Gregorian) stated: If discount cards are issued free of charge without compensation, their issuance and acceptance are permissible, as they fall under the category of promises for donation or gift. See: ((Decisions of the Islamic Jurisprudence Assembly in Makkah)) (p.453). , and what the Kuwaiti [2030] In a fatwa issued by the the Kuwaiti Iftaa Department (so long as the general discount card is given for free by national newspaper, it is permissible for the cardholder to enjoy the stated discount. This discount is considered a gift from the seller without any return. However, the seller is not obliged to provide the discount in case they excuse themselves, because a gift is not obligatory unless received). ((Al-Durar al-Bahiyyah min al-Fatawah al-Kuwaitiyyah)) (7/178). and Jordanian [2031] In a fatwa issued by the Jordanian Iftaa Department: (As for the free cards that are given to purchasers for nothing in return, there is no harm in using them and benefiting from them because giving the card for free makes it fall under the category of donations, and uncertainty in donations is acceptable, and the person who gets the free card, if they don't benefit from its discount, loses nothing. See: ((Official Website of the Jordanian Ifta House - Fatwa No 3160)). Ifta Departments have passed the ruling on.
This is because of the following reasons:
(1) Granting the card for free makes it a type of donation, and ignorance in donation is pardoned [2032] See: ((Official Website of the Jordanian Iftaa Department- Fatwa No. 3160)). .
(2) Issuing a free card is nothing more than a promise to donate or gift [2033] See: Decision of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of the Islamic World League in its 18th session held in Mecca in the year 1427 Hijri/2006 Gregorian ((Decisions of the Islamic Jurisprudence Assembly in Makkah)) (p.453). .