May I Earn Money From Ads on My Site by Clicking on Them Myself?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Is it permissible for me to earn money from ads on my site by clicking on them myself?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah guide us to the belief and way of life that is pleasing to Him.
Assuming that the website, ads, and payments are free from unlawful (haram) elements, there would be no difference whether the generated traffic comes from yourself or others and would thus be permissible, and Allah knows best.
Supporting One’s Personal Business
With the limited information provided, we could perhaps clarify the situation as follows. There is no issue in supporting your own business, brand, content, etc., provided there are no cheating or impermissible elements involved. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “…whoever cheats (deceives) is not of me [the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him)].” [Muslim]
Getting Paid for Traffic
Suppose you own a lawful business and a company offers payments to business owners in proportion to the traffic their businesses receive to boost the economy. As long as the company stipulated that the payments are simply for traffic, regardless of the traffic generation method, and there is no rule against “manufactured traffic,” this would be permissible. Your situation may be similar to the above example, and Allah knows best.
Hosting Ads
There shouldn’t be any issues if you merely sell “ad space,” and clients purchase the space to advertise questionable or impermissible content because you are not running the ads. You are therefore not sinning or directly assisting in sin. In many ways, it is akin to renting one’s property to someone who then uses it for unlawful purposes.
Apply Discretion Where Possible
If you have any control over the ads, such as in YouTube’s AdSense program, you should exercise your right to ensure that you only host permissible advertisements. If you have no control, then it would be best to avoid such income (if and where possible). The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Leave that which causes doubt and prefer that which does not, for indeed the truth (sidq) is a means of contentment while falsehood causes doubt” [Al-Tirmidhi]
Please view the following related answer: https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/living-religion/halal-earn-money-youtube-videos/
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
