Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Abbaad was asked:

Question:

“Some administrations and universities request recommendations from the one applying. What is the ruling on giving or writing recommendations? Does it fall under these Ahadith?

Answer:

“There is no harm. A person writing what he knows about another man is like a witness who affirms his recommendation until they [the universities or administrations] know he is upright. If a person writes what he knows about another and recommends him based on knowledge about the person, then there is no harm”. End translation. [Sharh Ibn Majah no. 267]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan

Translator’s Note:

One of the Ahadith in reference is the following:

عَنِ الْمِقْدَادِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ نَحْثُوَ فِي وُجُوهِ الْمَدَّاحِينَ التُّرَابَ

It was narrated that Miqdad bin ‘Amr said: “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) commanded us to throw dust in the faces of those who praise others.

[Saheeh Ibn Majah no. 3031]