What is the ruling on working with Quest, a company that sells various products such as watches, jewelry, vacation packages, and energy products, and relies on individuals for its marketing, with the possibility of earning profits from direct sales or by encouraging others to market, knowing that the profits may not necessarily be commensurate with one's level in the marketing structure?

The criterion is based on realities and meanings, not on names. The aforementioned marketing system does not fall outside the scope of network marketing because the agent does not only receive a commission for bringing in a customer, but also registers the customer in his network and receives commissions for sales made by others who joined through him. This is impermissible because the commission is given for effort expended, and in this case, no effort is expended for those who joined his network through others.

The goal of dealing with these companies is often to obtain money in exchange for bringing new customers, which is a form of maysir (gambling); because the transaction involves both gain and loss, and the product is merely an intermediary with no real effect. Therefore, it is impermissible to participate in this prohibited system, regardless of its name. However, purchasing a permissible product at a known price from the company is not objectionable.