Can I Promote My Own Services Before a Competitor’s?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

Is it permissible to offer my own service to a customer first, rather than directing them to more experienced providers?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

Yes, you may offer your own lawful service to a prospective customer and build a funnel toward it. You are under no obligation to send every prospect to a more experienced competitor. Promoting honest work you can perform is simply a lawful trade.

Selling your own service well — describing its merits, persuading, marketing — is permitted so long as you do not lie and the transaction itself is sound [Reliance of the Traveler, k2.1].

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught that the heaviest thing on the believer’s scale is good character [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi], and the honest, forthright seller is promised blessing in his livelihood.

The limits are the duties that protect the other party. Do not misrepresent what you offer or conceal a real defect, for deception (ghish) is unlawful.

You may call your service strong or well-suited without falsely claiming to be the best in an absolute sense or running down your competitors with untruths. [Qari, Sharh Ayn al-Ilm]

Honesty Wins the Customer and the Blessing

One further duty of sincerity (nasiha) remains: when a customer’s need plainly exceeds what you can deliver, tell him so honestly and point him to what genuinely serves him. Religion is sincere counsel, as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said. [Muslim]

This rarely costs you in the long run — a reputation for honesty draws far more custom than any single sale. So market your service with confidence, keep your word truthful, and trust that upright dealing is itself a door to sustenance.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Related Answers

Is It Permissible to Use Selling Tactics to Convince Customers to Buy Something?
Persuasive selling is permissible as long as there is no lying and the sale itself is valid.

Are Superiority Claims in Advertising Permissible?
Relative claims about one’s product are fine; absolute, exaggerated claims cross into deceit.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.

In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.

Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.

Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” published by White Thread Press in 2004, which is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.

His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.