Hosting Banners in Exchange of Free Web Space Assume that the web site of a business is hosted without charge by a free web space-provider. In exchange for the service, the web site owner has to allow the web space provider to put an advertising banner in each of his web pages. The web site owner has no control on what type of products or services being advertise by the sponsors. The web space provider assured that there will be no advertising which involves illegal or morally unacceptable products or services. However this does not guarantee that the advertisement is also acceptable in Islam. Is it permissible to have a web site hosted by such a service provider? Reply If you are satisfied that the advertisers shall not advertise anything illegal or immoral you may then host your web site with such a service provider. It may, however, be mentioned here that the stated issue does not directly relate to the allowances and the prohibitions of the Shari`ah . The most that one can say about it is that it has the potential of resulting in promoting something, which Islam does not approve (which may be seen as cooperating in a sin or Ta`aawun `ala al-Ithm ). Thus, if one has a better option, one may avoid such an arrangement. While, if one does not find a better alternative, one may undertake the arrangement with the intention that as soon as a better and a safer alternative is available, one would shift to that alternative. The stated problem, in my opinion, may be compared to writing an article for the promotion of moral values in a newspaper or delivering a lecture on the television or a radio. As we all know, newspapers are full of advertisements of such products and services, which are not only against the teachings of Islam but may sometimes even cross the generally accepted moral limits. Nevertheless, a person may have no other option of reaching his audience effectively besides that of getting his writings published in one or more of such newspapers. In about the same manner, if one wants to use the Internet to reach his/her audience, one may have no other option besides using the facilities provided by the advertisers (as is effectively the case in a newspapers and other communication media). In such a situation, if one does not have an option, one may resort to the stated arrangement. Nevertheless, the most important thing to decide would be whether the primary purpose for which one intends to use the web space is approved by Islam or not. I hope this helps. Regards, The Learner Home Page