Is it permissible to marry someone who works for a multi-level marketing company, knowing that he refuses to leave it, and does the sin fall upon him alone, or does the wife share in the sin?

The fatwa prohibiting network marketing is based on its involvement in gharar (excessive uncertainty/deception) and qimār (gambling). The Permanent Committee has clarified the prohibition of this type of transaction because its primary objective is commissions, not the product itself. Therefore, it is forbidden by Islamic law for the following reasons:

Firstly: It involves usury of both types: ribā al-faḍl (usury of surplus) and ribā al-nasī'ah (usury of delay), as the product is merely a cover for the exchange.

Secondly: It falls under gharar, which is forbidden by Islamic law, because the participant does not know whether they will succeed in achieving the required number [of recruits] or not. Most members lose out, except for a very small minority.

Thirdly: This transaction involves unjustly consuming people's wealth.

Fourthly: This transaction involves deception and fraud against people, by presenting the product as if it were the objective of the transaction, and enticing them with large commissions that are often not realized.

As for the argument that this transaction is a form of brokerage (samasara) or a gift (hibah), this is incorrect. Brokerage genuinely aims at marketing a commodity, and a gift takes the ruling of the reason for which it was given. These commissions, however, exist specifically for participation in network marketing.

Regarding accepting a suitor who earns from forbidden sources, there is a detailed explanation for that.