If the review requires direct experience—such as through buying, selling, or personally using the service—then it is not permissible to provide the review, as it constitutes testimony. Testimony requires both bearing witness and delivering it, similar to the legal concept of shahādah that involves taḥammul (learning/experience) followed by ᾽adā᾽ (performing/deliverance).

However, if the review is general—open to both those who have used the service and those who have not—then there is no harm in rating it based on the trustworthy reports you heard from others. This is akin to shahādah ῾alā al-shahādah (testifying based on another’s testimony).

Fatwā issued by Dr. Khālid Naṣr