“UCount Rewards” Program

QUESTION:

Standard Bank offers a rewards program called “UCount”. By subscribing to “UCount” for a monthly fee of R25, customers can earn cashback in the form of points when they use their bank card to purchase fuel, or to shop at specific grocery stores. Points earned can later be redeemed for cash. However, the R25 fee is charged regardless of whether the customer earns any rewards or not. Is it permissible to subscribe to such a rewards program?

ANSWER:

“Ucount Rewards” offered by Standard Bank is not permissible. In principle, the money that one has in the account is a loan to the bank, and on account of this, the bank offers you this reward which is tantamount to Riba (interest)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا أَقْرَضَ أَحَدُكُمْ قَرْضًا فَأَهْدَي إِلَيْهِ أَوْ حَمَلَهُ عَلَى الدَّابَّةِ فَلَا يَرْكَبْهُ وَلَا يَقْبَلْهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ جَرَى بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ» (مشكوة المصابيح #2831)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا أَقْرَضَ الرَّجُلُ الرَّجُلَ فَلَا يَأْخُذُ هَدِيَّةً» (مشكوة المصابيح #2832)

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

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 12 Dhul Qa’dah 1446 / 11 May 2025