Is It Permissible to Use My Former Employers’ Logos?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I am starting a service-based business. To help build trust, I want to show the logos of companies where I used to work as an employee, even though I was not working for them through my new business.

Is it okay to display these logos and only explain if someone asks, or should I clearly state that these were my employers and not my clients?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate.

You are allowed to display the logos, since your work history is a genuine credential. Still, Sacred requires you to be honest in how you present it. When people see a row of company logos on a service business website, they usually assume those companies are your clients.

Because that is not the case, and it could influence people to hire you, showing the logos without any explanation is considered deceptive, even if you do not say anything untrue.

How Deception Is Measured

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) passed by a heap of grain, inserted his hand into it, and discovered dampness concealed beneath the dry outer layer. He then stated, “He who deceives is not one of mine.” [Muslim]

Here, the seller did not make any false statement, but the manner in which the goods were presented was deceptive.

Cheating (ghish) and misrepresentation (tadlis) involve any instance in which a false impression is given, even if no false declaration is made.

Being honest, only if someone asks is not enough, because people form their impression before they even think to ask. Most visitors will not ask; they will just assume that a business that served those companies can be trusted, and may hire you because of that.

Keep the Logos, Fix the Frame

You do not lose any marketing value by fixing this. Just add a clear label above the logos, like “My experience includes roles at” or “Companies I have worked with in my career.”

This way, you keep your social proof, since being trusted as an employee by respected companies is a strong credential, and you avoid giving a false impression. One clear line is enough. Labels like “Clients” or “Trusted by” or logos without any explanation are still not allowed.

Be confident in choosing honesty. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The truthful, trustworthy merchant will be with the prophets, the champions of truth, and the martyrs.” [Tirmidhi] Build your business on this foundation and ask Allah to bless it.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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.