❖ Islamic Ruling on Accepting Payment for Hotel Reviews ❖
❀ Question:
If a hotel owner asks someone to write a review for the purpose of promoting the hotel and offers payment in return — while the reviewer has only seen the hotel in pictures and describes its features based solely on those images — is it permissible to accept such payment?
✿ Response by:
Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله) and Researcher Nu'man Khaleeq (حفظه الله)
Such an act is akin to giving testimony or bearing witness, and it is not appropriate to do so solely based on images.
✔ If the reviewer clarifies that their comments are based only on pictures and not personal experience, then to a certain extent, there may be room for leniency.
✔ However, the preferred and correct method is for the reviewer to visit the hotel in person and provide a review based on direct observation. This ensures that the review is complete and accurate.
If the payment from the hotel owner is exclusively for an honest review, then the following conditions apply:
✔ The review must be based on truthfulness and integrity.
✘ If the payment is conditioned upon writing a positive review, regardless of the actual quality of the hotel’s services — even if they are poor or objectionable — then accepting such payment is not permissible in Shariah.
✘ This practice falls under deception and goes against Islamic teachings, as it involves concealing the truth.
❖ Writing a review based solely on images is inappropriate unless it is clearly stated that the opinion is not based on personal observation.
❖ Detailed reviews without an actual visit are not acceptable in Shariah.
❖ Receiving payment is permissible only if the review is truthful and honest.
❖ If the payment is tied to giving a guaranteed positive review, even when the reality is different, then taking such payment is Haram.
❀ Question:
If a hotel owner asks someone to write a review for the purpose of promoting the hotel and offers payment in return — while the reviewer has only seen the hotel in pictures and describes its features based solely on those images — is it permissible to accept such payment?
✿ Response by:
Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله) and Researcher Nu'man Khaleeq (حفظه الله)
① Ruling on Giving Testimony Based on Images:
Such an act is akin to giving testimony or bearing witness, and it is not appropriate to do so solely based on images.
✔ If the reviewer clarifies that their comments are based only on pictures and not personal experience, then to a certain extent, there may be room for leniency.
✔ However, the preferred and correct method is for the reviewer to visit the hotel in person and provide a review based on direct observation. This ensures that the review is complete and accurate.
② The Shariah Perspective on Receiving Payment:
If the payment from the hotel owner is exclusively for an honest review, then the following conditions apply:
✔ The review must be based on truthfulness and integrity.
✘ If the payment is conditioned upon writing a positive review, regardless of the actual quality of the hotel’s services — even if they are poor or objectionable — then accepting such payment is not permissible in Shariah.
✘ This practice falls under deception and goes against Islamic teachings, as it involves concealing the truth.
③ Summary:
❖ Writing a review based solely on images is inappropriate unless it is clearly stated that the opinion is not based on personal observation.
❖ Detailed reviews without an actual visit are not acceptable in Shariah.
❖ Receiving payment is permissible only if the review is truthful and honest.
❖ If the payment is tied to giving a guaranteed positive review, even when the reality is different, then taking such payment is Haram.
