To what extent is the work of multi-level marketing (MLM) companies legitimate, given their reliance on a commission for the consumer in exchange for promoting products, taking into consideration the fatwa of the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta concerning its permissibility?

The multi-level marketing (MLM) that requires the subscriber to purchase a commodity or product from the company is not permissible. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has issued a fatwa (definition) prohibiting it because it relies on convincing buyers to convince others to buy in order to obtain increasing commissions. This is called pyramid or network marketing.