Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t, SS Dr. Mufti. What is the ruling of joining Like & Share Business like the ISharefans? Hope for an explanation. Thank you, Dr.
BRIEF ANSWER:
Like & Share Business contains non-Shari’ah compliant elements which are gharar (uncertainty) and ghisy (deception and manipulation). Therefore, it is haram and Muslims are advised to not be involved with this investment scheme. Besides, Muslims are also advised to take measures like al-tabayyun (verification) and al-ihtiyat (caution) before joining any scheme with easy money guarantee. This is important to avoid harm towards Muslim property that will worsen the economy in the future.
Explanation
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
From the beginning of this Like & Share Business, all registered participants will be grouped into the beginner level named as ‘ordinary’ or ‘normal’. On this level, they will only be given 1 to 3 tasks per day. The task given is to ‘like and share’ videos on TikTok or Youtube. While wages given is RM1 per task. This means, expected return to be received by the participants on this level is around RM3 per day. The return will be credited into the participants’ accounts. Next, if a participant intends to get more tasks and high return, they are imposed with RM100 – RM9000 by the company. In other words, trade already took place between both parties.
Earlier on, this activity gets positive feedback when their business operation seems smooth. From the aspect of the division of task and withdrawal of wage, all participants seem satisfied with the system. Even, some of them succeeded to gain some return up to 4-5 digits in a month. However, soon enough, the real agenda behind this activity is successfully exposed. Even now many participants submit their complaints on late payment of the wage by the company. Some also claim that the company is not professional when they did not answer calls made by the participants.
If we flash back to several cases happened before, indeed, many individuals were victimised by schemes with easy money guarantee. This is because, in fulfilling the agenda, normally, the mastermind will cover the public eyes using terminologies like business or investment. Therefore, many individuals assume that it is an alternative that will give them profit. In fact, the real vision is merely to enjoy some gain by gathering money invested or paid by the participants as much as possible.
Therefore, to avoid from repetition of such thing in the future, we feel obligated to give explanation to the public as a guide before investing money in any business or investment scheme which promised easy money guarantee.
Regarding the issue of Like & Share business, even if its aqd (contract) is seen as fulfilling the requisites stated as it can be considered as ju’alah or wage, at the same time, we also detect some flaws which defect the business. This is because, there are elements inside it which may lead towards haram, among them are:
- The Element of Gharar
Normally, all companies that do trades will surely expose their real identity to the public. This is to prove the clarity and orderly system in offering their service. Even so, after analysing several websites on groups involving the activity of ‘Like & Share’, there is clear uncertainty when they do not enclose together their staffs involved. This seems as if they try to hide something from the general public and have their own motive.
At the same time, this shows that no specific individuals are obliged when there are apparent damages which resulted in big loss towards the participant. So, such business has the element of gharar or uncertainty which is prohibited by shara’ for one to get involved. It is worrying that the main motive of this business is for the purpose of earning profit by deceiving the participants involved. Hence, the prohibition of coercing others’ property has been explained through Allah SWT’s saying:
وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].
Surah al-Baqarah (188)
Besides, the Prophet PBUH also prohibits sternly any form of businesses with the element of uncertainty. This is because it may lead a person towards harm. The Prophet PBUH said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ بَيْعِ الْحَصَاةِ وَعَنْ بَيْعِ الْغَرَرِ
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade a transaction determined by throwing stones, and the type which involves some uncertainty.
Sahih Muslim (1513)
Hence, based on the above dalil, it is best for Muslims to be cautious especially by avoiding businesses with companies which organizational background is doubted. One of the parameter to determine whether a company is trusted or not is by referring to authorised body like Central Bank of Malaysia, Security Commissioner (SC), Companies Commission of Malaysia and others. Absence from the list endorsed by the authorities is a signal that there are great uncertainties in their operation.
- The Element of Manipulation & Deception (al-Ghisy)
Other than the element of gharar, ‘like &share’ business practiced by several companies also contain other elements like al-Ghisy (deception). Based on the operation of this activity, the participants are asked to pay for certain amount of money to get more work access with higher potential of gain reaching to thousand ringgits per month.
However, confusion arises when the payment from the participants is not credited to the company’s account. Conversely, it is credited to individual’s saving account. This situation indirectly shows one of the form of manipulation towards participants involved. Any doing clearly directs towards deception contradicts with Allah’s saying which command humans to always uphold justice as well as avoid oppressing other humans. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
Surah al-Nahl (90)
Even, this prohibition was also stressed out by the Prophet PBUH through a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا
'Whoever cheats, he is not one of us.'
Jami’ al-Tirmidhi (1315)
The existence of such element like deception and oppression indirectly go against Fiqh maxim which highlights justice in binding a contract:
الأَصْلُ فِيْ جَمِيعِ العُقُوْدِ العَدْلُ
“The original rule in each contract is justice”
(See I’lam al-Muwaqqi’in, 2/7)
Conclusion
In conclusion, we advise all Muslims in this country to beware of getting involved with any activity with elements like Gharar and Ghisy as resided in Like & Share Business discussed above. Besides, Muslims are advised to take measures like al-tabayyun (verification) and al-ihtiyat (caution) before joining any investment or any scheme promising easy money guarantee. This is very important to evade harm towards Muslim properties which may worsen the economy in the future. This prevention also aligns with the maxim:
دَرْءُ المَفَاسِدِ مُقَدَّمٌ عَلَى جَلْبِ المَصَالِحِ
The repealing of harm is preferred to the attainments of benefits
May Allah SWT give guidance and good provision to us all especially in facing great challenges in current situation.
Wallahu a’lam.