Is it Permissible to Pay Late Fees for Advertising on Platforms like Meta, Google, and LinkedIn?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I want to start a business and advertise on platforms like Meta, Google, and LinkedIn. While they have late fee penalties, avoiding them denies significant income opportunities.

Answer

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

Allah (Most High) says,

“But if the debtor is in hardship, then allow for postponement until ease. But if you waive it as a charity, it will be better for you if only you knew.” [Quran, 2:280]

Late payment fees are a debated issue in contemporary Islamic law. The dominant view considers them a form of riba (usury) and thus prohibited, as they involve an additional charge for delayed debt repayment. However, some scholars permit them in specific contexts, such as administrative fees, to cover actual costs incurred due to late payments, provided they are not excessive or profit-driven.

Please study the details here.

In your case, since platforms like Meta, Google, and LinkedIn impose these fees as part of their terms, your engagement does not necessarily equate to direct involvement in riba. However, it is preferable to avoid such charges where possible. If avoiding them is impractical and significantly limits business opportunities, some scholars allow necessary transactions with such conditions, provided they are not deliberately delayed.

To minimize concerns, ensure timely payments and, if unavoidable, consult a scholar for guidance on ethically managing these fees within Islamic principles.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Mohammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.