What is the ruling on a website where a sum of money is paid to book hotel rooms, and then the paid amount is refunded along with a commission, with the aim of helping hotels improve their occupancy rates and reviews?

Deceit, fraud, and cooperating in them are forbidden, based on the words of Allah Almighty: ﴿And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression﴾. And based on the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Whoever deceives is not from me," and "Deceit and fraud are in the Hellfire."

The transaction mentioned is considered deceit, fraud, and misleading customers. It falls under the forbidden practice of "Najash," which is when a person bids up the price of a commodity without intending to buy it, in order to make others desire it, or when he praises a commodity with qualities it does not possess in order to promote it.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade Najash by saying: "Do not engage in Najash."

Therefore, this transaction is forbidden, and the commission resulting from it is also forbidden.