In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful

Peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you.

Jazakum Allahu Khairan and may He increase his grace upon you.

I have two important questions:

(1) I intend to travel,In shaa Allah, for a necessity, and I do not have enough money to cover my trip`s costs, and I do not have a way except to use the credit card, so, what is your opinion on that? If it is prohibited, was the credit card known in the past so as to be forbidden?

(2) Is it acceptable by Shari`ah to take the profits given to me by Islamic banks in Muslim countries, like Solidarity Islamic Bank in Yemen, which gives profits according to buying and selling procedures, and according to profits and losses it achieves, as they say, though what they give of profits is fixed, and I do not feel comfortable with that. I do not know, should I reject it or take it, and I am in need of it? Jazakum Allahu Khairan, and prayers, peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.  

In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful

Praise be to Allah, prayers and peace be upon His kind Messenger, family members, companions and followers.

The credit card is a newly introduced financial transaction that was not known in the past, therefore the independent judgments on it vary. The prohibited kind by all Shari`ah scholars of transaction in the credit card business is when you use that card and pay a usury percentage on the loan(s) you borrow, as a result of delay in paying back the borrowed sum. As for direct withdrawing from your deposit, it is permissible, because it is like when you authorize or deputize someone to pay for you, and this is allowable in Shari`ah. As for the case you have mentioned in your question, it is allowable to use the credit card on condition that you pay back your debts before any usury charges are imposed on you, and if you are not sure that you will pay back before time, then it is absolutely prohibited on you to use it because you will be dealing in usury upon whom Allah and His Messenger have announced war. However, some scholars maintain that it is not permissible to use that card unless the borrowed money is drawn from the borrower`s account directly from the bank, so as to avoid any way of dealing with usury in this connection.

As for profits of Islamic banks, they are acceptable by Shari`ah (Halal), if they abide by oriented Shari`ah investment methods, and the best way for ensuring this fact is your inquiry about the Shari`ah committee that follows up the proceedings of that bank, and if it comprises some authentic and trustworthy Shari`ah scholars, then it is OK for you to have transactions with it. May Allah guide you to the right path of success and prosperity. Allah knows best.