Making installment purchases through PayPal is not permissible in Islam when considering whether the interest reflected in the payment plan is considered riba (interest). In PayPal’s installment payment options, additional fees in the form of interest are applied on top of the product price. For example, PayPal’s official site in Germany states that installment options are available with specific interest rates for 3, 6, 12, or 24 months. In such a system, the additional fee added to the loan amount is clearly interest. According to Islamic law, riba is defined as the practice of lending money or goods and receiving more in return after a period of time, which is considered haram. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid payment methods that involve interest.
As for the matter of necessity (zarurat), it should be evaluated based on an individual’s personal circumstances and environment. In situations of necessity, there may be life-threatening risks or severe hardship. However, under normal circumstances, if a person has the ability to pay upfront or access such means, engaging in interest-based transactions is not permissible. In this context, considering alternative financing options that do not involve interest would be the most appropriate approach.