Saudi Arabia has instructed commercial establishments to stop printing or writing the Names of God or Quranic verses on plastic bags, paper, and disposable packaging, citing the need to protect religious texts from misuse and disrespect.
The directive was issued by the Saudi Chambers based on guidance from the Ministry of Commerce. Businesses were ordered to immediately remove any existing materials that violate the instruction and warned against continuing the practice on consumable items that are likely to be discarded.
The Saudi Chambers recalled earlier circulars issued in 1407 AH and 1415 AH that established a policy of preventive prohibition to avoid any practices that could lead to the desecration of religious texts. Companies were urged to review packaging designs without delay and adopt alternative marketing approaches that comply with religious guidelines and public decorum.
The decision is grounded in rulings by the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta, which stated that placing the Names or Attributes of God in locations exposed to disposal, contamination, or disrespect is religiously impermissible.
In a statement posted on X, Abdulrahman Al-Hussein, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said the measure reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to honoring and safeguarding the Names of God. He explained that printing such sacred names on items like bags and wrappers—which are often reused or thrown away—can lead to unintended disrespect.
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