Monetising ‘You-Tube’ videos
Question:-
Is it permissible to monetise videos on YouTube? The videos do not contain any Haraam content.
Answer:-
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. The video will be free from all forms of impermissible acts (such as photography, music etc.) and one will be able to listen to the uploaded content only. Although the transaction will be fundamentally permissible, we strongly discourage uploading Islamic content on You-tube.
Whilst trying to search a particular speaker or lecture, one is attracted to a number of impermissible websites and consequently, many get caught up in watching Haraam. Secondly, the talks of Allah and His Rasul Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam are not matters of entertainment but are instead, serious matters of Deen. One is therefore required to listen to the talks of Deen with great respect and honour. People generally regard the talks of Deen played on You-tube videos as entertainment and therefore listen to the content whilst engaging in discussions with friends and family, smoking cigarettes etc. Some will play the lecture and at the same time, browse other websites which are of an impermissible nature, making one involved in Haraam whilst listening to a Deeni programme. We learn from the Hadith of Jibraeel Alaihis Salaam that there are etiquettes of sitting before an Ustaad and acquiring knowledge of Deen.
On the other hand, if you mean by the term ‘monetising’, that you will upload videos of a Deeni nature as explained above (with no Haraam content whatsoever), and for every person that views the content, you will charge an admin fee for providing a password or registering the viewer each time. Here too, in principle, the transaction will be in order as you are charging a fee for your service. However, we do not encourage such a means of earning revenue, due to the factors outlined above.
In conclusion, we totally discourage one from earning a revenue through uploading Deeni material on You-tube. Yes, if you load the lectures on a USB flash drive or a CD and sell them to customers, then there is absolutely no harm in doing so.
If we have understood the concept of ‘monetising’ incorrectly, then we request that you provide the correct information, and we will look into matter Insha’Allah.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 24 Safar 1444 / 21 September 2022