Fatwa ID: 07550
Answered by: Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
I’m trying to build a business on affiliate marketing. Jointing multiple affiliate programs and selling multiple products. But 90% of the affiliate programs have women without hijab, sometimes wearing revealing clothes etc.
Now I promote them in a halal manner and I don’t even use music to promote them. Regarding the product, it’s 100% halal and my intention is also to sell the subscription. It’s like a business tool to use and grow businesses. And when my visitors buy a subscription to use that tool, I get a commission, sometimes recurring.
Now should I stop promoting them? I use landing pages but it won’t affect them because as current affiliate links redirect to their home page where the images are.
It would be so helpful if I get an answer.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
We commend you on seeking Islamic guidance for your business venture. This clearly shows you are conscious about protecting yourself from wrongdoing. With regard to your question, this is a challenge many Muslims face in many areas of their work life when integrated into a non-Muslim environment.
Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Abu Dawud, 4031]
In other words, imitation or participation in haram practices or supporting haram practices is considered acceptance. Therefore, the majority of scholars deliberate it impermissible to imitate, participate in or support the practices of Western marketing which oppose the laws of Shariah.
A business built on affiliate marketing with joint multiple affiliate programs and selling multiple products is a permissible business model.
However, as you have mentioned 90% of the affiliate programs have hijab-less women sometimes wearing revealing clothes, and presumably near to none.
Allah commands us in the Quran:
{Help one another to do what is right and good; do not help one another towards sin and hostility. Be mindful of God, for His punishment is severe.} [Maidah: v2]
If subscribers are directed to the businesses using these indecent images because of the tools your business model provides, then there is an element of assisting towards sin because of this. And it is better to be cautious about falling into sin unknowingly.
Allah also ﷻ cautions us about being mindful:
{If the people of those towns had believed and been mindful of God, We would have showered them with blessings from the heavens and earth, but they rejected the truth and so We punished them for their misdeeds.} [Al-A’raf: 69]
Being mindful requires that we stand firm and protect ourselves from falling into sin by assisting in haram. These businesses are based on indecent methods of selling which sexually objectify to sell the 100% halal products. Based on this, it would fall into a doubtful matter as the objectification of women is a direct violation of Islamic laws.
As Muslims, we are required to place our hope for provision and reward only in Allah. Based on this, it is advisable to review your business model and look at alternate business affiliates which do not compromise your belief as a Muslim. Provision (Rizq) has been determined by Allah and will not be reduced by remaining on the straight path and treading with caution.
Our Prophet ﷺ said:
“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt. The truth brings tranquillity while falsehood sows doubt.” [Tirmidhi, 2518]
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٰنِۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ ِ
لَوۡ أَنَّ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ لَفَتَحۡنَا عَلَيۡهِم بَرَكَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُواْ فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ وَ
“ دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لاَ يَرِيبُكَ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ ”
