{"_id":"6ac64189ca88853f742a56d5","title":"{\"format\":\"prosemirror\",\"schemaVersion\":1,\"doc\":{\"type\":\"doc\",\"content\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null},\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"Is it permissible to buy or renew a railcard for discounted train fares?\"}]}]}}","question":"{\"format\":\"prosemirror\",\"schemaVersion\":1,\"doc\":{\"type\":\"doc\",\"content\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null},\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"What is the ruling on purchasing or renewing a railcard that, in exchange for an upfront fee, entitles the holder to discounted fares on eligible train journeys?\"}]},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null},\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"If someone has already purchased a physical or digital railcard, can they continue using it to buy discounted tickets? If so, is it recommended to avoid using it?\"}]}]}}","answer":"{\"format\":\"prosemirror\",\"schemaVersion\":1,\"doc\":{\"type\":\"doc\",\"content\":[{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null},\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"Buying a paid railcard is not permissible. The buyer pays a fixed fee upfront and receives nothing but a promise of discounts on future travel. This is gharar (prohibited uncertainty): a certain sum is paid today for a return that depends entirely on how much the cardholder later travels. If they don't travel enough, they lose the whole fee and receive no countervalue, while the issuer's profit is guaranteed the moment the card is sold.\"}]},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null},\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"In Islam, the subject of a sale must be a tangible asset or a defined, delivered usufruct (manfa'ah), not a speculative future promise. A railcard offers neither at the point of contract, so it amounts to impermissible speculation.\"}]},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null}},{\"type\":\"paragraph\",\"attrs\":{\"quillTerminated\":true,\"direction\":null},\"content\":[{\"type\":\"text\",\"text\":\"If it's not refundable, they can use it.\"}]}]}}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe40b76658b4c23283a","tag":"Contemporary Life: Other","count":143},{"_id":"668da0120b76658b4c232d57","tag":"Contemporary Life: Technology","count":24}],"createdOn":"2026-10-07T12:56:41.606Z"}