The Ministry of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued strict and strongly worded directives to all commercial establishments and markets, stressing the need to completely refrain from writing "the name of God" or any of the beautiful names of God on commercial bags, packaging, and products that usually end up in the trash, in order to protect these sacred names from disrespect.
Details of government directives and official action
In a move reflecting the official authorities' commitment to upholding religious rites, the Ministry sent an urgent letter to the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, requesting that this decision be circulated to all chambers of commerce across the Kingdom. This initiative aims to convey the message to all affiliated merchants, manufacturers, and importers, emphasizing the importance of reviewing the packaging designs of their products to ensure they are free of any sacred texts that could be disrespected during disposal.
Religious context and legal background of the decision
This decision is based on the principles of Islamic Sharia, upon which the Kingdom is founded, which mandates the glorification and sanctification of God's name, and prohibits anything inappropriate about it. Numerous fatwas have previously been issued by the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas, prohibiting the writing of Quranic verses or the name of God on disposable items such as paper tissues, plastic plates, shopping bags, shoes, and rugs that are trodden upon. This measure is an extension of the Kingdom's policies to preserve Islamic identity and prevent any commercial practices that might, even unintentionally, disrespect sacred symbols.
Expected impact on the commercial and industrial sectors
This directive is expected to bring about changes in the production lines and design of packaging materials for many companies. Local manufacturers and importers will be required to review the visual identity of their products, replacing phrases that may contain religious names with commercial or promotional phrases that do not carry religious connotations. This includes scrutinizing Arabic calligraphy and ornamentation that might indirectly form the name of God. This commitment not only reflects compliance with the law but also enhances brand image and respect for the values of Saudi society.
Field monitoring and regulatory penalties
The Ministry of Commerce affirmed that it will not merely issue directives, but will also launch intensive inspection tours by its monitoring teams across all markets, retail outlets, and warehouses in the Kingdom to identify and address any violations. The Ministry clarified that deterrent legal measures will be taken against any establishment found to be in violation of these instructions, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the decision and to protect holy sites from any transgressions.
