Google Adsense

Brother in Islam,

Adsense is a platform offered by Google. A website makes space available for Google to post ads. Google then pays the website for the clicks the ad receives. The website owner acts as a broker. Essentially, the primary purpose behind an ad is to seek active engagement. This engagement is only achieved through clicking on the ad. Clicking on the ad is only possible after the website owner has put considerable amount of time and money in web design and hosting fees. Therefore, the websiteowner through his work on the websitebecomes the means for the fulfilment of the purpose of the ad. Furthermore, it is a common practice to earn fees though advertisement.Hence, the website owner will be entitled to fees for solicitating the advertisement.[i]

Accordingly, it will be permissible for one to make money through Adsense. However, you are responsible to make sure the ads that appear on your website to do not contain anything that contravenes the laws of Shariah. If your website advertises anything that is impermissible, you would become a means of committing sin which is prohibited. Consider the following verse:

ولا تعاونوا على الإثم والعدوان (سورة المائدة:2)

Translation: And do not help each other in sin and aggression.(Al-Maidah: 2)

Google allows one to filter and choose what ads are shown on your website.[ii] Therefore, we advise that you should ensure your ads are filtered to only show that which is permissble.