News Desk |
Meezan Islamic Bank has disallowed payment for Netflix application calling it non-sharia compliant. Due to the restriction, the Netflix users can’t pay their subscription fee through Meezan Bank anymore, forcing them to look for other payment methods.
The details emerged in a BBC Urdu report which revealed that the premier Islamic bank told a 26-year-old user, Muhammad Ahmed Tariq, that he could not pay to Netflix through his bank card because the whole process is ‘Haram’.
Similarly, the bank did not allow Ahmed to pay for a music app. When he contacted the bank officials, he was informed that the bank was working on it, adding the bank card could not be used if he was looking to pay to the media-services provider Netflix because such a transaction was against the sharia policy of the bank.
Netflix, an online subscription service for movies and videos, also falls under the category of entertainment services that are not allowed in Sharia.
The user was shocked to know that the bank would stop payment to Netflix because it considers it non-Islamic. Several other websites have reported that the bank had previously allowed Netflix payments for their customers but its Sharia Scholars raised an objection causing the interruption of the service.
As per the regulations and Sharia Compliance Guidelines of State Bank of Pakistan, a website reported, Meezan Bank cannot provide any product or service that is not in line with the guidelines of Sharia Compliance.
HOLY HELL! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!
Meezan Islamic Bank doesn't allow payment for Netflix app, calling it non-sharia compliant!! Amazing! https://t.co/MMW2x6HKBK
— Abid Hussain (@abidhussayn) July 9, 2019
Netflix, an online subscription service for movies and videos, also falls under the category of entertainment services that are not allowed in Sharia, it said. The website stated that “the bank was required to block Netflix as part of its regulatory and Sharia Compliance requirement.”
Read more: Is Netflix producing a Pakistani series?
As per the guidelines provided by Sharia experts, most Islamic banks are required to restrict their card from usage in casinos, bars, gambling, cinemas, etc. Accounts and financing services are also not provided for these professions. Certain entertainment activities and vendor categories are also blocked at Visa or MasterCard level.
Similarly, the website stated, it is the same for debit card users, the terms and conditions of the debit card restrict its use on non-compliant products or services. The bank can also restrict or cancel the card if it is used for similar services or products.