Taking a reward or discount code for reviewing products on shopping sites

A question on the cash rewards and discount codes shopping sites offer for product reviews, which Jordan's General Iftaa Department permitted provided the review is honest. ¹

The questioner said some online shopping sites pay a small sum for reviewing a product after buying it, and others give a discount code; he asked whether taking these is allowed, and whether reviewing a product without using it and taking money for it is forbidden. ¹

The Department answered that a sum the site grants for reviewing the purchase experience is unobjectionable if the review is genuine and truthful, since it is a reward from the site. ¹ It said a discount code offered by the site itself is part of its promotions to attract customers without anything in return, making it a gratuitous transaction in which uncertainty is excused. ¹ Reviewing products without using them or checking their quality, in the hope of a reward, it described as misleading and deceiving buyers, a false review akin to lying and fraud and contrary to sincere counsel; it required that any manipulation or deception be avoided and that the review be honest and truthful. ¹

Jordan's General Iftaa Department published this fatwa on aliftaa.jo as no. 3809, dated 28 September 2023. ¹ The museum records this text as a historical document attributed to the body or scholar that issued it; it issues no ruling of its own.