Is It Permissible in Islam to Earn Passive Income from Selling Self-Made Digital Products Online Without Ongoing Effort?
Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr
Question
Is it permissible in Islam to earn passive income by selling self-made digital products, such as slides and templates, online — even if each sale requires no further effort after the product is created?
ِAnswer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. May Allah reward you for ensuring that your earnings are halal.
Allah says, “O you who believe, eat of the good things of that which We have faithfully provided you; and give thanks to Allah, if it be Him you worship.”
Earning income by selling digital products, even if each sale requires no further effort after the product is created, is permissible.
Applying economic effort to the subject matter of a sale is not a requirement for its validity. Selling a gift or inheritance is permissible, even without economic effort or expenditure.
Likewise, selling something that requires no effort can be compared to providing a particular service, such as medical advice, which justifies payment despite relying on the same pre-existing skill set.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali, and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.
In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.
