The Ministry of Commerce's recent directive prohibiting the printing or writing of the Beautiful Names of God or Quranic verses on commercial bags and packaging has garnered Abdulmalik Al-Fassi that this decision reinforces the Ministry's legal authority to regulate the market and protect societal and religious values, emphasizing that this step aims to ensure commercial practices align with public morals.
Legal and Sharia dimensions of the decision
Al-Fassi explained that the directive is based on the necessity of protecting sacred texts from disrespect, given that commercial bags and packaging are consumable goods destined for spoilage or disposal in waste containers. He pointed out that the presence of the name of God or Quranic verses on these materials exposes them to unintentional disrespect, which contradicts the sanctity of these texts in Islamic law and the conservative Saudi society. This approach aligns with previous fatwas and religious directives urging respect for papers bearing the name of God.
Article Seven: The Legal Basis for Prohibition
In elaborating on the legal basis, Al-Fassi explained that violating this directive falls under the category of commercial regulations violations, specifically non-compliance with Article 7 of the Commercial Names Law. Paragraph (c) of this article clearly prohibits the registration or use of any trade name that violates public order or morals, or that could lead to deception. He added that the law deems a trade name prohibited if it contains religious connotations in a consumer context that could diminish their significance, which applies perfectly to the use of Quranic verses and the Beautiful Names of God in commercial packaging.
The resulting penalties and their impact on the market
The legal expert emphasized that compliance with this directive is not optional but a legal obligation, warning that negligence in its application exposes the establishment to accountability. Penalties typically begin progressively, starting with warnings to rectify the situation, and culminating in the imposition of fines determined based on the severity and circumstances of the violation, in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Ministry of Commerce.
The importance of compliance for companies and factories
This decision requires factories and commercial companies to immediately review the designs of their packaging and bags to ensure they are free of any religious texts. This measure reflects the Saudi Arabian regulatory authorities' commitment to balancing freedom of commercial activity with preserving the Islamic identity and moral values of society, thus fostering a responsible and compliant business environment.
