Fatwa ID: 04278

Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Kamran Abid

Question

Is it permissible to launch an app where ads would pop up relevant to the users? Sometimes these ads may show haram things. Ads are there for monetary purposes only.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

Generally, putting advertisements on an app or website is permissible. However, if the advertisements show haram things, then it would be impermissible to show those advertisements and the money earned would also be impermissible.

The reason it is impermissible is that Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran, “Help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression.”^[1] To show haram items or pictures in the advertisement would be considered as helping one another in sin, therefore not permissible.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammed Kamran Abid

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

^[1] (Surah Maidah, verse 2)