Most-asked question
Is earning money online (YouTube, apps, surveys) permissible?
40 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 4 South African Darul Iftas (Mufti Online, AskImam, Azaadville, Ibn Masood). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“In principle, it is permissible to earn money through YouTube if the content of the YouTube channel is Shariah compliant. If there is any un-Islamic content or adverts on the YouTube channel, that will not be permissible. It is also permissible to pay people for subscribing and increasing watch hours.”
“You have stated in your query that you intend monetising videos on You-tube which are of a permissible nature. We understand from this that you will probably upload a lecture of some Alim, or a Nazm of some reciter and charge a fee for your service.”
“Earning wealth through this means is not permissible as it does not conform to the principles of shariah. In shariah, one can earn wealth through either a business transaction or an ijaarah contract or a shirkat (partnership).”
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- Making Youtube videos Mufti Online · 8 Sep 2026
- Can we memorize the Quran using imam kaaba videos on youtube? AskImam · 24 Feb 2023
- Monetising ‘You-Tube’ videos Ibn Masood · 21 Sep 2022
- Addiction To Watching Movies, Youtube etc. Azaadville · 23 Apr 2021
- Muslim women appearing on YouTube quoting Quraan and Hadeeth Mufti Online · 23 Jun 2026
- Clarification – YouTube Query AskImam · 27 Dec 2020
- Earning by investing some money by liking and subscribing to different YouTube channels and uploading them to an app Mufti Online · 21 Aug 2023
- Are paid surveys allowed to be taken? AskImam · 2 Nov 2020
- Sharing YouTube videos with people Mufti Online · 17 Jul 2023
- Food blogs on Instagram, Youtube & Facebook AskImam · 17 Sep 2020
- Lady teacher starting a math YouTube channel Mufti Online · 13 Jun 2021
- Google Adsense - What can i do? AskImam · 13 Jan 2020
- Watching videos on YouTube Mufti Online · 28 Jan 2021
- Can you use Authentic Islamic Channel and Youth Club on YouTube to spread Islam? AskImam · 9 Aug 2019
- Uploading football highlights on YouTube Mufti Online · 22 Nov 2018
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