How to Keep Your Google AdSense Ads Halal
19. Sep, 2008 
33 Comments
Buzz it!
Did you know you could filter out certain Google AdSense ads from appearing on your blog or website? AdSense has a feature called “Competitive Ad Filter”. It has been around for a while, but is one that is not often used. Originally, this was designed so that you can filter out businesses and services that compete with whatever it is your site (blog) is offering. However, as Muslim bloggers we can use this feature to filter out ads that we should not be advertising for.
The majority of Muslim blogs that are using Google AdSense tend to have advertisements for dating or matrimonial services. This is not something that is done intentionally but it is definitely not something that happened by chance either. Businesses pay money to advertise their services on sites with certain keywords such as “Muslim” or “halal” or “haram”. Muslim blogs often include these keywords and so these AdSense ads will then pop-up on your blog. Some of the ads that show up may in fact be legit, but my research into this has shown that most of these Google AdSense ads are either haram or, at the very least, questionable.
When it comes to dating sites,for example here’s what I did to find potential problems:
- Google “Muslim dating”
- Copy all the links of businesses that advertise
- Paste them into the Ad Filter in AdSense
Remember that it is against Google’s Terms of Service that you click your own ads for any reason at all. So if the site’s address isn’t listed in the ad, then you’ll need to use Google for more information. Of course, new sites will always be popping up — so you really have to stay on top of things.
If you are willing to go through this process once in a while, then I recommend you go ahead and use AdSense. For example, I know that this post includes words such as “dating”. So for quite some time I will be monitoring the ads that are displayed so that I can add them to the list. On the other hand, if filtering ads is something you just don’t want to deal with then I highly recommend you stay away from advertising – especially content related ads from Google AdSense. Why? Because the last thing you want is to earn money from haram sources. Do you really want to earn even one penny from someone who clicks on some dating site that advocates haram methods for establishing a relationship? I’m sure none of us do as it would be something displeasing to Allah.
I’ve compiled a list of sites that you can just copy and paste into the “Competitive Ad Filter”. Click the icon below to download the file with the list of sites I’ve found questionable so far. There is also a short tutorial video showing you how to find, search for, and filter site that may be questionable or haram.
Let me know where you stand on the issue of AdSense and targeted ads. Do you use AdSense on your blog? If so, have you had a chance to look at the type of ads being displayed? Did you already know about (and use) the “Competitive Ad Filter” feature before reading this blog post?
(Photo: cgfan)
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Jazaka Allah khair for the good advice on how to keep your income halal, like you said, we don’t want to start earning money from haram sources.
This post was very helpful. Jazak Allahu Khaira. I was worried about how many of the ads displayed on my webpage at the website I write for actually being halal. Now I can use this filter, which you have mentioned.
Whoah…whoah…whoah…you have a Mac? What type of Mac do you have bro?
@Azam
Ah – I wish. I had a 24″ iMac and loved every moment I spent with it. I would tell you why I no longer have it but it would bring up memories of a time I love too much. Actually, I needed the money – so I sold it.
Alhamdulillah, I finally find this list, but before I found this i had unfiltered ads in my blog and it has make earn for me.
Is zakat will reclean my earning?
Unfortunately there is a 200 line limit. So you can only bad 200 websites from advertising.
@ MR: Interesting. I didn’t know that. Well, I guess we’ll try to refine the list to the top 200 as time goes on. If you already have a list, can you e-mail it to me?
One reader, Ali, left a comment in this post about Halal Ads. I’ve never heard of it before. Do you know anything about it or anyone who has had experience with it?
Alsalam alaikum,
Thanks for the post. I knew about this filtering feature long ago. However, it’s still not a 100% way to ensure halal content. There has to be that human touch that says, ‘Yes, this ad is halal!’. A computer can’t make that guarantee. Muslims have to fear Allah and not make a profit off of a service that could generate haram income.
For all these reasons, I decided to build my OWN Halal Ads Network (http://www.halalads.net) as a way for any website with halal content to advertise for FREE. It is very similar to Google Ads in it’s look and feel but it is at the same time very original and works very differently from it.
It works on a point system rather than pay-per click. You agree to display halal ads, which are not necessarily related to Islam, and the more you display and the more clicks you generate, the more your own ads are displayed.
I encourage everyone to sign up. Jazakumullah khair.
Br. Ali
visit my halal product, herba medicine n others halal muslim product
To start earning money with your blog, initially use Google Adsense but gradually as your traffic increases, keep adding more and more money making programs to your site.
JazakAllah khair Brother for your honest advice.
I think Islam emphasizes more on the physical purity rather on the mind.
Salam alaikum,
inshallah we will launch April 2009 AdHalal.com!
The problem with not Halal adverts is one of our big problems in our business. So we developped AdHalal for advertisers and publishers who are looking for Halal adverts and Halal traffic.
Affiliates will be integrated this year inshallah.
May be this is more effective and better for Muslim bloggers. Khaijr inshallah… have a look at the Beta domain and test pages.
Wassalam, Kadir from Germany
Hey very nice blog!!
lol! mashaalllah, great advice. I love the way you put a muslim spin on your articles. Of course this advice is freely available on the Internet, but it’s nice to see it from a muslim perspective. Keep it up!
Nice and helpful post!
Thank You
Asalaam,
Great post! Very informative screen-cast.
Thanks for compiling the Google site filter.
Ws
As-Salaamu-Alaikum. If you’re serious about generating advertising revenue with your blog, then you definitely should be looking at direct advertising. Have people pay you directly to advertise on your blog and this way you have complete editorial control and make the most of amount of money. Filtering Google is a time consuming headache and you can increase your revenue by focusing your energy elsewhere. Being able to have a human being screen all content before it goes live on your site, is the best to keep it Halal, when you’re dealing with internet.
Да,согласен с предыдущими ораторами
) Bye
Assalamualaikum,
This is excellent mashaAllah.
JazakAllah khair for sharing
Вот так,согласен с предыдущими блоггерами
Споки
Вот так,согласен с предыдущими ораторами
Споки
Assalam-0-Alaikum..
Brother you have done a great work. I always think wow can i filter my ads so Haraam ads won’t be shown on my web. Thanks alot, this Article helps a lot to filter my ads.
Thanks bro
More post please! you are leaving a poor old man hungry for more :[
Jazakh Allah very nice work. I have downloaded the file and i have noticed that it is outdated i will update this file and can i place this information on my website?
for the owner of AdHalal.com, I think you should change the young ladys picture at your website, (AdHalal.com) maybe it’s better you put a man not a girl with no Hijab
sory….