FatwaFederal TerritoriesTransactions & Finance
AL-KAFI #1940: HUKUM PENIAGA MENGGUNAKAN TESTIMONI PALSU UNTUK MENARIK PELANGGAN
Is it permissible for a seller to use fake testimonials to boost sales?
Short answer
Using fake testimonials to gain sales is equivalent to deceiving customers and counts as false advertising, so it is forbidden in Islam.
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
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Transactions & Finance
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Using fake testimonials to gain sales is equivalent to deceiving customers and counts as false advertising, so it is forbidden in Islam. The fatwa links it to najasy, the prohibited practice of false bidding, and states that a product's effectiveness must be provable or certified by the relevant authority. Traders should hold genuine documentation to prove their testimonials are authentic. Under national law, action can be taken under the Consumer Protection Act 1999.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Oleh itu, perbuatan ini adalah diharamkan dalam 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. “AL-KAFI #1940: HUKUM PENIAGA MENGGUNAKAN TESTIMONI PALSU UNTUK MENARIK PELANGGAN”, 25 May 2023. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/5654-al-kafi-1940-hukum-peniaga-menggunakan-testimoni-palsu-untuk-menarik-pelanggan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-using-fake-testimonials-to-sell/