Can you use Quran verses or hadith to sell products? What fatwas say

The official fatwa bodies we found that have ruled on this say you should not use Quran verses or religious statements to promote a product. Malaysia's Federal Territories Mufti, the Perlis State Fatwa Committee and Jordan's General Iftaa' Department have each said so, for different reasons. In our research we did not find an official fatwa body that permits it.

This guide summarises those rulings and links to them. It is not a fatwa. Each ruling below comes from a specific body in a specific country, and many countries have no ruling on this at all. Ask a scholar you trust about your own products and ads.

What have fatwa bodies said?

Three rulings address this directly. Two come from Malaysian state fatwa bodies and one from Jordan's official iftaa department.

Skrine notes that Perlis, Negeri Sembilan and Penang have issued similar fatwas, and that the Federal Territories prohibition is limited to promoting a product, not the use of Quran verses in general.

Why do scholars object to it?

Each body gives its own reason, and they are worth knowing because they point to what to avoid.

Closing the door to selling religion. The Federal Territories fatwa applies sadd al-dhara'i, the principle of blocking a route that leads to harm. Skrine's summary describes it as curbing acts that lead to selling religion for worldly gain (Skrine).

Uncertainty about price and benefit. Perlis based its ruling on gharar. It said selling ruqyah materials commercially involves uncertainty over the price and over whether the claimed benefit actually works. It also notes that commercial sale of these materials was not practised by the early generations, and it urged that terms such as "sunnah food" be stopped so that the public does not misunderstand them (Mufti of Perlis).

Protecting sacred names from disrespect. Jordan's fatwa says the names of Allah, the prophets and the pious should be kept from degrading treatment, and points out that printed material carrying such names often ends up in the bin (Darul Iftaa Jordan).

Does this cover hadith and Islamic phrases too?

The rulings above name Quran verses (Federal Territories), ruqyah verses (Perlis) and religious statements including the Prophet's name (Jordan). We did not find a separate ruling on quoting hadith in an ad, so we cannot tell you what scholars have said specifically about that. Whether the reasons above, especially respect for sacred words, extend to hadith is a question for your scholar.

Everyday phrases such as "Ramadan Mubarak" or "Eid Mubarak" are not addressed in the rulings we read. In the UK, the advertising regulator's guidance says the use of religious imagery or language "may be considered acceptable, provided it is not mocking or disrespectful", and that ads which "seem to exploit religious imagery for purely commercial purposes can be problematic" (ASA). The fatwas above concern sacred texts used to promote products. If you are unsure whether a greeting crosses that line, ask your scholar.

What if the verse is the product?

Selling a mushaf, a calligraphy print or a wall hanging with a verse on it is a different case from using a verse to sell something unrelated. The fatwas above are about promotion and about products sold for a claimed spiritual benefit. They do not address the sale of the Quran or of calligraphy as such, so ask a scholar if this is your business.

If you do sell these items, a careful approach is to describe the item factually and let the buyer see it.

The last row matters. Perlis's ruling covers ruqyah used on products for commercial purposes, which is the kind of product in that row. Claims like this also need evidence under advertising law. In the UK, CAP rule 3.7 requires documentary evidence for objective claims (ASA, CAP Code section 3).

How can you show your values without quoting scripture?

Write about what you actually do. That is usually more persuasive anyway, because it is specific and checkable. Here are rewrites for made-up brands.

Date shop, before (example): A verse about provision above a photo of a date box, with "20% off this week".

After (example): "Medjool dates from one farm in the Jordan Valley. Picked this season, packed in Leicester. 1 kg box, £14."

Modest wear brand, before (example): A verse on modesty as the headline for a sale on abayas.

After (example): "Abayas in breathable crepe, cut loose through the shoulder. Sizes 50 to 62. Free returns within 30 days."

Honey brand, before (example): "Sunnah honey: the cure for every illness."

After (example): "Raw sidr honey from Yemen, lab-tested for purity. 250 g jar." (Only say "lab-tested" if you hold the test results.)

The "after" versions still tell a Muslim customer a lot: where the product comes from, how it is made, that you care about detail. For more on writing for Muslim customers without leaning on religious symbols, see how to market to Muslim customers.

What does this mean on ad platforms?

Platform rules add a separate layer. TikTok's advertising pages say "Ads with political, religious, or other sensitive content are not permitted on TikTok" (TikTok). Meta does not allow ads that assert or imply a viewer's religion, so a line like "Fellow Muslims, read this verse" risks rejection on that ground alone (Meta). Our guide to Meta's personal attributes rule covers how to phrase ads to stay inside it.

Adrizq refuses to use Quran or hadith wording to sell an unrelated product, and flags religious-benefit claims for you to fix. That is an automated check against principles you choose. It is not a fatwa.

Checklist before you publish

1. No Quran verse appears in the ad to promote a product.
2. No hadith is quoted to sell, unless a scholar you trust has advised you on your specific use.
3. No product is described as healing, protective or blessed because of verses or recitation.
4. Terms like "sunnah food" are checked with your scholar, given the Perlis ruling.
5. If you sell a mushaf or calligraphy, the ad describes the item factually.
6. Seasonal greetings are respectful and not tied to a hard sell.
7. The ad does not address the viewer as a Muslim (Meta) or carry religious messaging (TikTok).

For the wider set of principles, see Islamic advertising principles.

Frequently asked questions

Is it haram to put Quran verses on product packaging or ads?

We cannot give a ruling. Malaysia's Federal Territories Mufti ruled in 2021 that Quran verses may not be used to promote a product, and Perlis banned ruqyah verses on products for commercial purposes in 2016, including labelling and advertising. Jordan's Iftaa Department called promotional use of religious statements improper. Ask a scholar you trust about your product.

Can I quote a hadith in my marketing?

The rulings we found name Quran verses and religious statements, including the Prophet's name. We did not find a separate ruling on quoting hadith in an ad. Whether the reason Jordan's fatwa gives, protecting sacred names from disrespect, extends to hadith is a question for a scholar you trust, so ask before using one.

Can I say Ramadan Mubarak or Eid Mubarak in an ad?

The fatwas we read do not address seasonal greetings. In the UK, the ASA says religious language may be acceptable if it is not mocking or disrespectful, but that exploiting religious imagery for purely commercial purposes can be problematic. If you are unsure, ask your scholar, and check platform rules too.

Can I sell Islamic calligraphy or a Quran online and advertise it?

The fatwas above deal with using verses to promote products and with products sold for a claimed spiritual benefit. They do not directly address selling the Quran or calligraphy. A careful approach is to show the item and describe it factually, without claims that it protects or heals. Ask a scholar you trust about your shop.

Is it allowed to sell products with ruqyah recited over them?

The Perlis State Fatwa Committee ruled in 2016 that using ruqyah on any product for commercial purposes is prohibited, citing uncertainty over price and over whether the claimed benefit works. It also urged that terms like sunnah food be stopped. Other bodies may differ or have no ruling, so ask a scholar you trust where you live.