Is it haram to write fake online reviews?
Yes, writing fake online reviews is haram. A review is a kind of testimony, and Islam treats false testimony as one of the major sins. This applies to fake praise for your own business and fake complaints about a rival.
A review is a form of testimony
When you write "Great service, five stars!" you're telling strangers that this happened. They spend their money based on your words. If it's not true, you've lied to every person who reads it. The Quran says plainly:
The Prophet ﷺ listed false witness among the greatest of the major sins, and he repeated the warning so many times that the Companions wished he would stop (Sahih al-Bukhari 2654). He also said, "Whoever cheats us is not one of us" (Sahih Muslim 102), which applies directly to misleading customers.
Common cases that are not allowed
- Writing five-star reviews for your own shop, app or restaurant under fake names.
- Asking friends or family to review a business they never used.
- Leaving fake one-star reviews to damage a competitor.
- Accepting a free product or payment in exchange for a positive review you don't honestly believe.
- Using AI to generate batches of reviews.
Many of these are also illegal under consumer protection laws in the UK, EU and USA. Lying in official or commercial settings carries extra weight. See Is it haram to lie on government forms?
What about honest negative reviews?
An honest review of a real experience is fine, even a critical one. Warning others about bad service is a form of sincere advice, and scholars allow mentioning someone's faults when it protects others. Stick to facts, avoid insults and personal attacks, and don't exaggerate. If the problem is personal rather than about the service, think twice. See Is it backbiting to complain about someone online?
If you've done it before
Delete the fake reviews you can, sincerely repent, and don't repeat it. If you harmed a business with false complaints, try to undo the damage, even quietly. The same honesty applies to anything you share online. See Is it a sin to share fake news online as a Muslim?
- Fake reviews are false testimony, a major sin.
- This covers fake praise and fake attacks on rivals.
- Honest, fair negative reviews are allowed.
- Delete old fake reviews and repent.
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