Resolution No.(119): “Ruling on Trading with Cellular Phone Cards“
Date: 1/3/1429 AH, corresponding to 9/3/2008 AD.
All perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds, and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The board received the following question:
A trader was asked to provide cellular phone cards that equal (500) JDs, then sell them by installments over one year with 20% as a profit. He has the following questions:
1- Is trading with cellular phone cards illegal?
2- Is it permissible to specify a certain percentage of profit, in general?
Answer: All success is due to Allah
1- It is permissible to trade with cellular phone cards because it is a kind of sale against a benefit. This is supported by the fact that these cards have a certain expiry date, and become useless after that date. Moreover, possession of such cards is tantamount to possession of a benefit, which is using the web of the telecommunications company that issued them for a specific period. One who has possession of a benefit may make it in the possession of someone else in return for a compensation, even if that compensation was more than the one against which he had possessed that benefit in the first place. However, cellular phone cards differ from paper money so as for people to say that they may not be sold for more than their actual value.
2- It is permissible to specify a certain margin of profit, whether for cellular phone cards, or any other commodity, because doing does not contradict the rules of Islamic Sharia.
And Allah Knows Best.
Head of the Iftaa` Department, The Grand Mufti of Jordan, Dr. Nooh Al-Qodat
Vice Head of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Sheikh AbdulKareem Al-Khasawneh/ Member
Sheikh Sa`eid Hijjawi/ Member
Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member
Judge Sari Attieh/ Member
Dr. Abdulrahamn Ibbdah/ Member
Dr.Mohammad Oklah Al-Ibraheem/ Member
Sheikh Na`eim Mujahid / Board Executive Secretary
