Saudi authorities have issued guidance restricting how religious names may appear in commercial settings, citing concerns over potential disrespect tied to everyday consumer products.
The clarification came from Abdulrahman Al Hussain, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, who said on Monday that businesses are no longer allowed to display the “Most Beautiful Names of Allah” in contexts where the names could be treated improperly.
According to Al Hussain, the restriction specifically targets commercial materials that are likely to be discarded or handled casually. He noted that items such as shopping bags and product packaging fall under this category because they may be reused or disposed of in ways that undermine the sanctity of the names.
The ministry’s position was also shared publicly through a post on X, where Al Hussain wrote: “Out of respect for glorifying and safeguarding the Most Beautiful Names of Allah, commercial establishments are prohibited from printing the Most Beautiful Names of Allah or the Divine Name on anything that may subject them to disrespect, such as bags and packaging, which may ultimately be used in an inappropriate manner.”
