Question: Some administrations and universities request recommendations from the one applying. What is the ruling on giving or writing recommendations? Does it fall under these Ahadith*?
Answer: “There is no harm. A person writing what he knows about another man is like witness who affirm his recommendation until they [the universities or administrations] know he is upright. If a person writes what he knows about another and recommends him based on knowledge about the person, then there is no harm”.
[Sharh Ibn Majah no. 267]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
Translator’s Note:
One of the Ahadith in reference is the following:
عَنِ الْمِقْدَادِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ نَحْثُوَ فِي وُجُوهِ الْمَدَّاحِينَ التُّرَابَ
It was narrated that Miqdad bin ‘Amr said:
“The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) commanded us to throw dust in the faces of those who praise others.
[Saheeh Ibn Majah no. 3031]
