Is Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) allowed in Islam?

The short answer

Buying something and paying for it later, even in instalments, is allowed in Islam, and the price may be agreed in advance. What makes a BNPL plan haram is interest, including late-payment charges that grow the debt. Scholars differ on plans that are interest-free but contain late fees in the terms; either way, avoid ever paying them.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

Deferred payment is halal. The Prophet ﷺ bought food on credit for a set period 1, and in his time Barira, who was buying her freedom from her masters, agreed to pay nine uqiyas in instalments, "one Uqiya per year" 2. The Quran lays down how to record a debt "for a specified term" 3. So "pay in 4" or monthly instalments, at a price fixed at the start, is not a problem in itself. Most scholars also allow the instalment price to be higher than the cash price, as long as it is agreed and fixed at the time of sale.

Interest is the red line. If the plan charges interest, or a percentage that increases the longer you take to pay, it is the riba Allah forbade 4, and the one who pays it is included in the Prophet's curse 5. Many BNPL providers are interest-free if you pay on time but charge late fees. Islam's instruction to a creditor facing a struggling debtor is the opposite of a penalty: "postponement until [a time of] ease" 6.

Watch the debt itself. BNPL makes it very easy to take on many small debts at once. The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from debt because a person in debt "tells lies when he speaks, and breaks his promises when he promises" 7. Allah describes His servants as spending "not excessively or sparingly" 8.

Before using BNPL, ask:

  • Is the total price fixed now, with no interest?
  • What happens if I pay late, and am I certain I can pay on time?
  • Do I actually need this now, or can I save for it?

Plans and providers differ, and their terms change. Read the actual terms, and if you are unsure about a specific plan, ask a qualified scholar to look at it with you.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2509
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ bought food on credit for a limited period.

    Narrated `Aisha:The Prophet (ﷺ) bought some foodstuff on credit for a limited period and mortgaged his armor for it

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ تَذَاكَرْنَا عِنْدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّهْنَ، وَالْقَبِيلَ فِي السَّلَفِ، فَقَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم اشْتَرَى مِنْ يَهُودِيٍّ طَعَامًا إِلَى أَجَلٍ وَرَهَنَهُ دِرْعَهُ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2168
    Sahih Bukhari

    Barira agreed to pay nine uqiyas in yearly instalments.

    Narrated `Urwa:Aisha said, "Barira came to me and said, 'I have agreed with my masters to pay them nine Uqiyas (of gold) (in installments) one Uqiya per year; please help me.' I said, 'I am ready to pay the whole amount now provided your masters agree that your Wala' will be for me.' So, Barira went to her masters and told them about that offer but they refused to accept it. She returned, and at that time, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was sitting (present). Barira said, 'I told them of the offer but they did not accept it and insisted on having the Wala'.' The Prophet (ﷺ) heard that." `Aisha narrated the whole story to the Prophet. He said to her, "Buy her and stipulate that her Wala' would be yours as the Wala' is for the manumitter." `Aisha did so. Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood up in front of the people, and after glorifying Allah he said, "Amma Ba`du (i.e. then after)! What about the people who impose conditions which are not in Allah's Book (Laws)? Any condition that is not in Allah's Book (Laws) is invalid even if they were one hundred conditions, for Allah's decisions are the right ones and His conditions are the strong ones (firmer) and the Wala' will be for the manumitter

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ جَاءَتْنِي بَرِيرَةُ فَقَالَتْ كَاتَبْتُ أَهْلِي عَلَى تِسْعِ أَوَاقٍ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ وَقِيَّةٌ، فَأَعِينِينِي‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ أَحَبَّ أَهْلُكِ أَنْ أَعُدَّهَا لَهُمْ وَيَكُونَ وَلاَؤُكِ لِي فَعَلْتُ‏.‏ فَذَهَبَتْ بَرِيرَةُ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا، فَقَالَتْ لَهُمْ فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهَا، فَجَاءَتْ مِنْ عِنْدِهِمْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَالِسٌ، فَقَالَتْ إِنِّي قَدْ عَرَضْتُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَبَوْا، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْوَلاَءُ لَهُمْ‏.‏ فَسَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرَتْ عَائِشَةُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏"‏ خُذِيهَا وَاشْتَرِطِي لَهُمُ الْوَلاَءَ، فَإِنَّمَا الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَفَعَلَتْ عَائِشَةُ ثُمَّ قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي النَّاسِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَّا بَعْدُ مَا بَالُ رِجَالٍ يَشْتَرِطُونَ شُرُوطًا لَيْسَتْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ، مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَرْطٍ لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِائَةَ شَرْطٍ، قَضَاءُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ، وَشَرْطُ اللَّهِ أَوْثَقُ، وَإِنَّمَا الْوَلاَءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:282

    Debts for a specified term are permitted and should be written down.

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيۡنٍ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلࣲ مُّسَمࣰّ ى فَٱكۡتُبُوهُۚ وَلۡيَكۡتُب بَّيۡنَكُمۡ كَاتِبُۢ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ وَلَا يَأۡبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكۡتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ ٱللَّهُۚ فَلۡيَكۡتُبۡ وَلۡيُمۡلِلِ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَلۡيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ وَلَا يَبۡخَسۡ مِنۡهُ شَيۡـࣰٔ اۚ فَإِن كَانَ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوۡ ضَعِيفًا أَوۡ لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلۡيُمۡلِلۡ وَلِيُّهُۥ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِۚ وَٱسۡتَشۡهِدُواْ شَهِيدَيۡنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمۡۖ فَإِن لَّمۡ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيۡنِ فَرَجُلࣱ وَٱمۡرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرۡضَوۡنَ مِنَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰۚ وَلَا يَأۡبَ ٱلشُّهَدَآءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُواْۚ وَلَا تَسۡـَٔمُوٓاْ أَن تَكۡتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوۡ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ أَقۡسَطُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقۡوَمُ لِلشَّهَٰدَةِ وَأَدۡنَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَرۡتَابُوٓاْ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً حَاضِرَةࣰ تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيۡنَكُمۡ فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكۡتُبُوهَاۗ وَأَشۡهِدُوٓاْ إِذَا تَبَايَعۡتُمۡۚ وَلَا يُضَآرَّ كَاتِبࣱ وَلَا شَهِيدࣱۚ وَإِن تَفۡعَلُواْ فَإِنَّهُۥ فُسُوقُۢ بِكُمۡۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمࣱ‏ ۝٢٨٢

    O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things

  4. 4
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:275

    Allah permitted trade and forbade interest.

    ٱلَّذِينَ يَأۡكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ مِنَ ٱلۡمَسِّۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡبَيۡعُ مِثۡلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡبَيۡعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰاْۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوۡعِظَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمۡرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَمَنۡ عَادَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ۝٢٧٥

    Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1598
    Sahih Muslim

    The payer of interest is cursed with the taker, scribe and witnesses.

    Jabir said that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cursed the accepter of interest and its payer, and one who records it, and the two witnesses, and he said:They are all equal

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم آكِلَ الرِّبَا وَمُوكِلَهُ وَكَاتِبَهُ وَشَاهِدَيْهِ وَقَالَ هُمْ سَوَاءٌ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:280

    A debtor in hardship is given time until ease.

    وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسۡرَةࣲ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيۡسَرَةࣲۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُواْ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ۝٢٨٠

    And if someone is in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease. But if you give [from your right as] charity, then it is better for you, if you only knew

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 2397
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from debt, because it leads to lies and broken promises.

    Narrated `Aisha:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to invoke Allah in the prayer saying, "O Allah, I seek refuge with you from all sins, and from being in debt." Someone said, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (I see) very often you seek refuge with Allah from being in debt. He replied, "If a person is in debt, he tells lies when he speaks, and breaks his promises when he promises

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَتِيقٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَدْعُو فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَيَقُولُ ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ مَا أَكْثَرَ مَا تَسْتَعِيذُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْمَغْرَمِ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا غَرِمَ حَدَّثَ فَكَذَبَ وَوَعَدَ فَأَخْلَفَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  8. 8
    Quran Al-Furqaan · 25:67

    The servants of the Most Merciful spend with moderation.

    وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَنفَقُواْ لَمۡ يُسۡرِفُواْ وَلَمۡ يَقۡتُرُواْ وَكَانَ بَيۡنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامࣰ ا ۝٦٧

    And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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