Vodabucks
QUESTION:
I would like to enquire about the Shari’ah ruling regarding the Vodacom VodaBucks rewards program. The program works as follows:
1. When a person purchases airtime or data, they earn VodaBucks points.
2. These points can be used to buy things, win things etc.
3. They also sell vouchers where you pay R100, for example, but you receive a voucher valued at R120 worth of goods.
My concern is whether this falls under Riba, and whether the extra voucher value is considered Riba. Please advise if it is permissible to participate in this program?
ANSWER:
We understand that to acquire Vodabucks one is required to participate in the Vodabucks loyalty programme at no charge. Each time a prepaid user purchases voice minutes, data or integrated bundles (at standard rates) from Vodacom, then he qualifies for Vodabucks. Postpaid customers will earn Vodabucks on payment of their monthly bill. One Vodabuck is earned for every R10 collected from their monthly bill.
Accrued Vodabucks may be utilized to purchase various items from the Vodabucks store. One also qualifies to play one unlock game daily free of charge and stands a chance of winning a prize.
In the above scenario, it will be permissible to use the Vodabucks (that were accrued free of charge) to purchase items from the Vodabucks store. Similarly, if one plays the free unlock game and wins a prize, then it will be permissible for him to keep the prize.
However, if one purchases Vodabucks to play the unlock game so that he stands a chance to win a prize, then it will not be permissible as this will be tantamount to gambling.
This is our understanding of Vodabucks. If the reality is any different to what we have explained above, then you may revert to us with the correct explanation.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ –نَهَى عَنْ بَيْعِ الْغَرَرِ»
ويطلق القمار في الاصطلاح الفقهي على كل لعب يشترط فيه غالبا أن يأخذ الغالب شيئا من المغلوب.
وحقيقته مراهنة على غرر محض (فقه المعاملات 4/128)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 14 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1448 / 26 September 2026
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb