Purchasing Vouchers

QUESTION:-

1) Is it permissible to sell a voucher with an expiry date, for one’s business? For example, a voucher which sells for R50 with the following details:

A) This voucher entitles the holder to R50 off the order placed… Valid till 30 August 2023

or

B) This voucher entitles the holder to (a specific item or service)… Valid till 30 August 2023

2) Is there a different ruling for the above 2 vouchers?

ANSWER:-

We understand from your query that a store sells vouchers to clients. If the customer pays R50 for example, then he will receive a R50 voucher from the store which entitles him to purchase an item/s worth R50. Such an arrangement is in order. However, it is incorrect for the store to attach a deadline to the voucher, whereby the voucher will be invalid if it is not used by a particular date.

If a date was attached to the voucher and not used by the stipulated date, then the store should replace the client with another voucher equivalent in value, or refund the cash to the customer. The same ruling will be applicable for the second type of voucher, if the voucher was purchased in the manner explained above.

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:-  22 Dhul Hijjah 1444 / 12 July 2023