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Fatwa CenterKeeping a credit card to maintain a good credit score
Question
Assalaamu alaikum. I have a follow up question related to a question that I have asked on your website a while ago (question 230872). This question relates to the justification of leaving a credit card open while tearing the card to completely eliminate the possibility of using it. The justification was to avoid a drop in credit score and potentially suffer from its implications when applying for billed services. However, there is an additional factor here that I realize now might be important to mention. The credit card bank actually charges 19 dollars in annual fees even if the card is not used at all, which I am obliged to pay to keep the account open. Would that make any difference in the ruling? Thank you again, and may Allaah reward you for your services.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
In continuation of the answer to your previous question, as we advised that it is deemed permissible for you to retain your bank account which entails paying the required fees to the bank; accordingly, it is permissible for you to pay such fees. However, it should be noted that you should retain your bank account merely for the specific purposes that you have mentioned and provided that this does not involve any deception or gharar (risk and uncertainty) for the parties involved in any given transaction with you.
The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) advised that using such cards in eastern countries is permissible - with certain conditions - in case of dire need. The Fatwa of the ECFR about using the Visa card reads:
"Islamic banks in some Muslim countries have launched a Sharee'ah-acceptable Visa card free of Sharee'ah violations and totally interest-free such as Kuwait Finance House (KFH), Qatar Islamic Bank, Qatar International Islamic Bank, Al-Rajhi Group in Saudi Arabia, and other Islamic financial institutions. There is no harm in using such Visa cards after they have been approved by the Sharee'ah Advisory Bodies in those banks. However, the question remains regarding the permissibility of using these cards outside the Islamic world, and in a country where no Islamic banks exist. What is the religious ruling of using such cards? Most of the contemporary scholars, as far as we know, held that using them is permissible only in case of dire need and valid necessity for them and provided that the holder (card bearer) pays the required money on time before the expiration of the grace period so as to avoid any usurious interests charged in case of delayed payment and accordingly bears the sin of engaging in an usurious transaction. This is the common practice of Muslims in western countries and no scholar, whose opinion holds considerable authority in this regard, has criticized that practice. It is a required condition that the holder does not use the card if he does not have any money in his bank account..."
Hence, the Muslim should bear that in mind, and as long as there is no dire need for using such cards, then the basic principle is that using them is forbidden.
Allaah knows best.
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