Fatwa ID: 08374

 

 

Answered by: Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

 

Question:

 

Is it permissible to earn commission by becoming an intermediary between an influencer on YouTube/social media related to niches like clothing, technology, education etc and a brand selling similar services/products. However most influencers use background music in their videos/content. Would it be okay if an influencer who uses background music is used to earn a commission?

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

Allah the Almighty says in the Qur’an:

وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ

“Help one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and transgression.” (5:2)

 

Within the Hanafi school, being directly involved in something haram is clearly impermissible. When it comes to indirect involvement, however, the ruling depends on the nature of the connection—whether your contribution leads directly to sin, or if the link is distant and not the main purpose.

 

An example often cited is that of someone selling grapes which may eventually be used to make wine, or someone supplying wood that is later made into musical instruments. Despite the final use being impermissible, the seller’s action is not inherently haram because it is not directly enabling sin.

 

Based on this understanding, acting as an intermediary between a brand and an influencer would be permissible, provided the product or service being promoted is lawful. Although the influencer may include background music in their content, your role is not to promote or participate in that specific aspect, but rather to facilitate a marketing arrangement.

 

Therefore, as long as your intention is not to support or encourage impermissible elements, and you are not directly involved in producing or endorsing the music or inappropriate content, your work is permissible. That said, in light of the Qur’anic principle of avoiding cooperation in sin, it is better to avoid projects where the haram elements are prominent or form a central part of the content.

 

 

References: 

 

قُلْت: وَأَفَادَ كَلَامُهُمْ أَنَّ مَا قَامَتْ الْمَعْصِيَةُ بِعَيْنِهِ يُكْرَه بَيْعُهُ تَحْرِيمًا وَإِلَّا فَتَنْزِيهًا نَهْرٌ  حُكْمُ قَاضِيهِمْ لَوْ عَادِلًا وَإِلَّا لَا، وَلَوْ كَتَبَ قَاضِيهِمْ إلَى قَاضِينَا كِتَابًا، فَإِنْ عُلِمَ أَنَّهُ قَضَى بِشَهَادَةِ عَدْلَيْنِ نَفَّذَهُ وَإِلَّا لَا.

ــمَطْلَبٌ فِي كَرَاهَةِ بَيْعِ مَا تَقُومُ الْمَعْصِيَةُ بِعَيْنِهِ (قَوْلُهُ: تَحْرِيمًا) بَحْثٌ لِصَاحِبِ الْبَحْرِ حَيْثُ قَالَ: وَظَاهِرُ كَلَامِهِمْ أَنَّ الْكَرَاهَةَ تَحْرِيمِيَّةٌ لِتَعْلِيلِهِمْ بِالْإِعَانَةِ عَلَى الْمَعْصِيَةِ ط (قَوْلُهُ: مِنْ أَهْلِ الْفِتْنَةِ) شَمِلَ الْبُغَاةَ وَقُطَّاعَ الطَّرِيقِ وَاللُّصُوصَ بَحْرٌ (قَوْلُهُ: إنْ عَلِمَ) أَيْ إنْ عَلِمَ الْبَائِعُ أَنَّ الْمُشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُمْ (قَوْلُهُ: لِأَنَّهُ إعَانَةٌ عَلَى الْمَعْصِيَةِ) ؛ لِأَنَّهُ يُقَاتِلُ بِعَيْنِهِ، بِخِلَافِ مَا لَا يُقْتَلُ بِهِ إلَّا بِصَنْعَةٍ تَحْدُثُ فِيهِ كَالْحَدِيدِ، وَنَظِيرُهُ كَرَاهَةُ بَيْعِ الْمَعَازِفِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمَعْصِيَةَ تُقَامُ بِهَا عَيْنُهَا، وَلَا يُكْرَهُ بَيْعُ الْخَشَبِ الْمُتَّخَذَةِ هِيَ مِنْهُ، وَعَلَى هَذَا بَيْعُ الْخَمْرِ لَا يَصِحُّ وَيَصِحُّ بَيْعُ الْعِنَبِ. وَالْفَرْقُ فِي ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ مَا ذَكَرْنَا فَتْحٌ وَمِثْلُهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَنْ الْبَدَائِعِ، وَكَذَا فِي الزَّيْلَعِيِّ لَكِنَّهُ قَالَ بَعْدَهُ وَكَذَا لَا يُكْرَهُ بَيْعُ الْجَارِيَةِ الْمُغَنِّيَةِ وَالْكَبْشِ النَّطُوحِ وَالدِّيكِ الْمُقَاتِلِ وَالْحَمَامَةِ الطَّيَّارَةِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَيْنُهَا مُنْكَرًا وَإِنَّمَا الْمُنْكَرُ فِي اسْتِعْمَالِهَا الْمَحْظُورِ. اهـ.

[رد المحتار]4:268

 

 

قال: “ولا بأس ببيع العصير ممن يعلم أنه يتخذه خمرا”؛ لأن المعصية لا تقام بعينه بل بعد تغييره، بخلاف بيع السلاح في أيام الفتنة لأن المعصية تقوم بعينه

كتاب الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي(378:4)

 

 

فِي الْأَشْرِبَةِ لِلْأَمَامِ السَّرَخْسِيِّ بَيْعُ الْعَصِيرِ مِمَّنْ يَتَّخِذُ خَمْرًا لَا يُكْرَهُ عِنْدَ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى – وَعِنْدَهُمَا يُكْرَهُ وَيَجُوزُ الْبَيْعُ وَبَيْعُ الْعِنَبِ مِمَّنْ يَتَّخِذُ الْخَمْرَ عَلَى هَذَا الْخِلَافِ كَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ.

كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية210:3 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham