For solo entrepreneurs launching a new business venture, navigating the subtle nuances of professional communication can often trigger unexpected ethical dilemmas. Among the most common points of hesitation for independent operators is the choice of pronouns when drafting cold outreach emails or marketing materials. A solo founder sitting alone at a desk may wonder whether using plural pronouns such as "we" or "our" when describing a fledgling agency crosses the line into dishonesty, especially when the enterprise consists entirely of a single individual.
Addressing this widespread concern within the modern freelance and startup community, prominent Islamic scholar and SeekersGuidance Executive Director Shaykh Faraz Rabbani has provided authoritative guidance on the matter. According to the scholar, it is entirely permissible and does not constitute a lie for a solo business owner to refer to themselves or their enterprise using the plural pronoun "we." This practice, he explains, is rooted in accepted linguistic usage where the pronoun speaks directly for the business entity itself, a convention that readers naturally and accurately understand.
The question was raised by a newly established solo agency owner who found it awkward and counterintuitive to use the singular pronoun "I" when representing a commercial entity. Writing to the SeekersGuidance advisory platform, the entrepreneur sought clarity on whether phrases like "we do…" or "we’re thinking of…" amounted to misrepresentation, given that no other employees or partners were involved in the business.
In his comprehensive response, Shaykh Rabbani emphasized that language fundamentally relies on shared meaning and customary usage. To illustrate how plural pronouns are routinely applied to singular entities, he pointed to major lexicographical authorities. The Merriam-Webster dictionary, for instance, explicitly recognizes the use of "we" for a single person, noting that it is frequently "used by writers to keep an impersonal character."
The principle of using the royal or institutional "we" is not unique to modern English or Western corporate culture; it has deep roots in classical linguistic and literary traditions as well. In Arabic grammar, the brilliant scholar and Quranic commentator Imam Abu Hayyan documented instances where a single individual adopts the pronoun "we" by strategically placing themselves in the position of a group. According to classical grammatical records cited in Abu Hayyan’s foundational work al-Tadhyil al-Takmil, this rhetorical style is most frequently observed in the speech of kings, leaders, and scholars who speak with institutional authority rather than merely as private individuals.
Furthermore, classical texts and sacred literature demonstrate that addressing or speaking from a singular position using plural majesty is an established mode of expression. In the Quran, the Divine frequently employs the plural pronoun to denote supreme authority, such as in the verse: "Verily We Ourselves have sent down the Remindance." Scholars note that these linguistic conventions reflect the scale, weight, and representative capacity of the speaker or entity rather than a literal headcount.
Expanding upon the definition of truthfulness and falsehood within commercial communications, Shaykh Rabbani referenced insights from fellow SeekersGuidance scholar Mawlana Ilyas Patel. In Islamic ethics, a lie is fundamentally defined as intentionally informing someone about a state of affairs that is fundamentally contrary to reality. When a business enterprise utilizes the pronoun "we" in commercial correspondence, it communicates the collective voice, brand identity, and operational capacity of the organization rather than providing an exact census of the office headcount.
Scholars advise that while solo operators should avoid fabricating nonexistent teams, recording false credentials, or fabricating nonexistent departments that they do not possess, utilizing the corporate "we" is standard business parlance that deceives no reasonable reader. It establishes a professional tone and allows a startup to project a polished corporate identity while remaining entirely truthful about its operational nature.
Reinforcing the importance of integrity in daily commerce, Shaykh Rabbani reminded entrepreneurs of prophetic traditions emphasizing honesty. He cited a well-known narration from Prophet Muhammad, who instructed believers to hold steadfastly to truthfulness, as truthfulness invariably guides individuals toward righteousness and ethical uprightness.
The guidance offers considerable reassurance to freelancers, consultants, and startup founders who often grapple with imposter syndrome or anxiety regarding how to present their micro-enterprises to prospective clients. By distinguishing between deceptive claims and accepted figures of speech, the ruling provides a clear ethical framework that permits independent professionals to communicate with confidence.
Additional scholarly commentary from SeekersGuidance contributors, including Shaykh Yusuf Weltch and Mawlana Ilyas Patel, further reinforces these principles. Their previous rulings emphasize that customary speech, conventional figures of speech, and standard professional estimates that do not deceive anyone fall well outside the definition of falsehood. Armed with this linguistic and ethical clarity, solo entrepreneurs are encouraged to move forward with their outreach efforts with an easy heart, focusing on delivering quality service while maintaining honesty in their professional dealings.