Is it Halal to Earn Money from YouTube Videos?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question

There are many people who post videos on YouTube to earn money. These people earn their income from the ads that are shown before their videos. There is no way currently to control the type of ads that are shown while viewing your video.  It is possible that money from ads can come from ads that showcase Haram products and services. How halal will my income from Google be considering the nature of Google advertising on YouTube?

Answer

My understanding is that the money you make from providing a “space” to run such ads would be lawful. This is because the actual running of the ads is not being done by you and so you are not directly assisting in sin. In many ways, it is akin to renting one’s home out to someone who will use it for unlawful purposes.

However, given the potential nature of the ads, it may be disliked for you to allow such ads to run. Therefore, it would be best to avoid it if possible.

Finally, it goes without saying that the activity and material you yourself are directly promoting on such mediums should be permissible.

Please see:
A Beautician With Non-Hijab Clients: Am I Accountable When They Go Out Uncovered? and Designing Buildings That May Be Used for Sinful Purposes

[Ustadh] Salman Younas
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.