FatwaFederal TerritoriesTransactions & Finance
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-682: PANDANGAN SYARAK TENTANG KAEDAH PEMASARAN FEAR MONGGERING
Is the fear mongering marketing technique, which frightens customers into buying, permissible in Islam?
Short answer
Fear mongering marketing is ruled unethical and prohibited for Muslims because frightening others is forbidden in religion.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Transactions & Finance
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Fear mongering marketing is ruled unethical and prohibited for Muslims because frightening others is forbidden in religion. The ruling cites a hadith forbidding a Muslim from frightening another Muslim, and likens profit from such methods to consuming others' wealth unlawfully. However, the sale contract itself remains valid, since the prohibition applies only to the marketing method and not to the contract.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Teknik pemasaran fear monggering adalah teknik pemasaran yang tidak beretika dan haram dilakukan oleh umat Islam.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-682: PANDANGAN SYARAK TENTANG KAEDAH PEMASARAN FEAR MONGGERING”, 17 May 2022. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/5256-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-682-pandangan-syarak-tentang-kaedah-pemasaran-fear-monggering. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-fear-mongering-marketing-in-islam/