You ask a chatbot to advertise a small table. It writes “natural wood”, “perfect condition” and “will last decades”. Yet you don’t know the material, the tabletop is scratched, and nobody checked its lifespan.

AI can organise descriptions and suggest clear wording. Check every claim against the item before publishing. State known defects; verify or remove unsupported specifications.

Why attractive wording needs checking

NIST (the US National Institute of Standards and Technology) describes the risk of confidently stated errors in generative AI answers. Check listed characteristics against your own information. Generative AI Risk Profile, section 2.2.

For Muslims, honesty matters online too. Al-Bukhari’s hadith 2079 links truthful buying and selling, with disclosure of qualities and defects, to blessings in the transaction. Lying and concealment remove those blessings. This paraphrases the hadith’s meaning. Hadith text.

Section 2.2.25 of the Islamic Code of AI Application prohibits using AI for deception and fraud and requires honest economic activity. Islamic Code of AI Application.

What to ask AI

You can ask AI to turn notes into a listing, correct typos or flag missing information, such as dimensions and included items.

Be cautious with “make this as persuasive as possible”. Check judgements and promises. “No signs of use”, “genuine” and “under warranty” need evidence. “AI-generated text” does not correct a false description.

Never invent customer reviews, conceal known defects or present a generated image as a photograph of the item. Editing away scratches or changing its colour misleads buyers.

From notes to listing

Inspect the item. Record dimensions, included items, visible damage and what you actually checked. Note uncertainties separately. Check the material against labels or manufacturer documentation; a photograph alone may be inconclusive.

Give AI your notes. For example:

“Write a clear listing using my information. Keep every stated defect. Ask questions if information is missing. Dimensions: 60 × 40 × 45 cm. The tabletop is scratched; a corner has a small chip. Material unknown. Photographs show this item.”

These measurements are fictional. Substitute your own measurements.

Compare the response with your notes: are the scratch and chip still mentioned? Have new properties or promises appeared? Add clear photographs of the whole item and damage. If you cannot yet answer a buyer, say: “I’ll check and get back to you”.

A common mistake is checking numbers but overlooking adjectives: “looks good” becomes “like new”. Another is expecting buyers to spot defects in photographs. Describe each defect and show a close-up.

Correct errors discovered after publication. If already discussing a purchase, tell the buyer before reaching an agreement.

When to seek help

Check technical specifications affecting the buyer’s choice in documentation or with a specialist. Ask a knowledgeable religious scholar about the permissibility of particular goods or transaction terms, explaining the circumstances.

This article is informational and is not a fatwa.