Fatwa No : 82523
The ruling on earning income through advertisements.

The ruling on earning income through advertisements.

What do the honorable scholars and respected muftis say regarding the following issue that I have invested in an advertising company called Channel Time, whose headquarters are in Italy. The company collects money from people all over the world to run advertisements on various international TV channels. They air ads on these channels and run different programs, generating revenue from which they share profits equally with those who invested money. The invested amount cannot be withdrawn within 2 to 5 days. Channel Time has divided its investments into six categories according to the amount invested. The lowest investment is $150 (approximately Rs. 16,500), which is used in children’s cartoon programs. In this category, investors receive $1 profit per day. If you refer another person, you also receive one-tenth of their profit ($0.10 or Rs. 10 per day). Thus, the total daily earning amounts to about Rs. 110. I have personally invested in this category. The second category covers news programs, followed by drama, movies, and English films, each with higher investment amounts $300 (earning $2 daily), $600 ($4 daily), $900 ($8 daily), $2000 ($10 daily), and $4000 ($20 daily).
Now I would like to know: since I have invested in the first category (children’s programs and cartoon advertisements), is this income considered haram (unlawful)? If it is haram, and I have already invested the money, should I give away the earnings as charity without intending any reward, or is it halal (permissible) and allowed for me to use it?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

Provided that the advertisements do not promote any un-Islamic or illicit activities, and the products being sold through them are also lawful and permissible, then the income generated from them, as well as the commission earned for referring others, may be used for one's own purposes. Otherwise, it is not permissible

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في أحكام القرآن للجصاص: وقوله تعالى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ﴾ نهى عن معاونة غيرنا على معاصى اللّه تعالى اھ (3/ 296) ۔