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What is the ruling on earning money from companies that do surveys on products via the Internet (Surveys Paid website)? I got an invitation in my email to register with survey companies, and I do not know exactly what the basis of that work is, but what I understand is that they distribute surveys about their products, and every survey should be filled out within a period that may be as long as thirty minutes, then the company will give you money that may be as much as fifty dollars in return for filling out the survey.
You can find out more from the Internet about this matter, by looking up “surveys paid” on Google, because I do not want to give an incomplete impression of the question that would affect the answer.
If this way is haraam, then are there other ways to earn a halal income from the Internet? I am a student and am in real need of money, and I have free time that I want to make use of in order to meet my needs.
May Allah reward you with all good.
Praise be to Allah.
First of all, we should warn against these companies that say that they need people to do surveys for commercial companies. It has been proven that there are companies that trick people by claiming to have opportunities for work from home, by doing surveys in return for money. In the beginning, they charge what they claim are fees to confirm one’s sincere interest in working for then, then later on it becomes clear that they are dishonest companies that take people’s money.
If we were to assume that there was a genuine company that really had work, then the ruling on working for that company that is doing surveys would depend on the nature of the product concerning which the worker is required to seek people’s opinions on the quality of the product or how it could be improved. Whatever product is permissible or beneficial, it is permissible to work with it and look for people’s opinions on it. Examples include medical, agricultural and electronic products and the like. Whatever is forbidden or harmful, it is not permissible to work with it and look for people’s opinions on it. Examples include alcohol, movies, tourist resorts and the like, because that comes under the heading of helping one another in sin, which is haraam according to the text of the Qur’an, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment”
[al-Maa’idah 5:2].
With regard to the ruling on surveying people’s opinions on haraam products, on the quality of the product or how it could be improved, the ruling is no different from the ruling on advertising or marketing it.
With regard to working from home via the internet, you can check out some major Islamic websites, which post information about their need for people to work for them from home, or you could contact work agencies, whether in your country or those whom you trust on the internet, and perhaps you may find halaal work through them. We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to suffice you with that which He has permitted so that you will have no need of that which He has forbidden, and to make you independent of means by His bounty.
And Allah knows best.