Writing Ayahs on stores for the purpose of advertising
Q 1: I enclosed for Your Honor a clipping from a newspaper called
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah
published last week. I noticed that one of the owners of a supermarket in Jeddah advertised the opening of a new branch by quoting an Ayah (Qur'anic verse). It is the Ayah in Surah Al-Fatah. I think that this is a misuse of the Qur'an. I hope you will have a look at it in order to advise and guide legal authorities in particular, and companies and agencies in general, (Part No. 3; Page No. 31
A:
It is not permissible to
use the Glorious Qur'an in marketing and advertisement materials to promote the sale of goods and so on, because this is considered abuse of the Qur'an and using it in other than the purpose for which Allah revealed it. It may also involve misrepresentation of the meanings of the Holy Qur'an and quoting its Ayahs out of place, as in the case mentioned in the question. This Ayah was revealed regarding Al-Hudaybiyah Treaty, and not to celebrate opening new shops and supermarkets. We must glorify the Noble Qur'an by reciting, contemplating, understanding, and acting upon it, and avoiding abusing it and using it for commercial purposes.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.