Short answer
Yes, affiliate marketing is halal in principle. Earning a commission for sending buyers to a seller is a recognised form of brokerage. It must be for halal products, honest, and under clear terms. Promoting interest-based credit cards, loans, betting sites, alcohol or adult content is haram, as are fake reviews and click fraud.
Commission for introducing buyers (ujrat al-simsar) is permitted by the later Hanafi jurists on the basis of custom, provided the work is lawful and the fee is known. Promoting haram products or services is helping in sin and the commission from it is not lawful.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Also treat it as ju'alah, a reward promised for a result, which they accept as its own contract.
- Maliki
- Also accept ju'alah, payable only when the result is achieved.
- Hanbali
- Also accept ju'alah as a valid contract.
Explanation
In affiliate marketing you share a link, and when someone buys through it, the seller pays you a percentage or a fixed amount. Brokers who brought buyers and sellers together were well known in Madinah, and Hanafi jurists such as Ibn Abidin allowed their fee by custom. The other schools also call it ju'alah, a reward for a result, citing the story of Yusuf: "for he who produces it is a camel's load" (12:72).
What keeps it halal:
- Halal products: clothing, books, tools, software, travel and most retail are fine.
- Known terms: the commission rate or amount is set by the program.
- Honesty: review only what you believe, disclose that links earn you a commission, and do not invent results or testimonials.
- No fraud: self-clicks, fake leads and cookie stuffing are theft from the seller.
What is haram to promote, however high the payout:
- Credit cards, personal loans, payday loans and other interest products, which are among the best-paying niches.
- Sports betting, casinos, lotteries and crypto gambling.
- Alcohol, adult content, dating apps used for haram relationships.
- Leveraged forex or CFD brokers. See Is forex trading halal?
On a site with automatic ads, choose the categories you allow. For commission work generally, see Is earning commission halal?, and for the related model see Is dropshipping halal?
The evidence
Quran, Surah Yusuf 12:72
قَالُوا۟ نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَآءَ بِهِۦ حِمْلُ بَعِيرٍۢ وَأَنَا۠ بِهِۦ زَعِيمٌۭ ﴿٧٢﴾
They said, "We are missing the measure of the king. And for he who produces it is [the reward of] a camel's load, and I am responsible for it."
A reward for achieving a result was known and lawful.
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:2
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿٢﴾
O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allah or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of ihram, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
Promoting haram products is helping in sin.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2079
Sahih... فإن صدقا وبينا بورك لهما في بيعهما ...
"If they are truthful and make things clear, their sale is blessed."
Honest recommendation brings blessing.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Ijara, on the broker's fee (ujrat al-simsar). Brokerage fees permitted by custom.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Ju'ala. Ju'alah as a contract for reward on a result.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.