Do Pictures on Packaging Affect Purchase Permissibility?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Is it sinful to buy products that display images of people showing ‘awrah or any pictures, whether real or cartoon?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

It is not sinful to purchase a product that is not inherently impermissible (haram) despite the presence of pictures portraying nakedness.

This is based on a principle: Subsidiary matters are not singled out regarding the ruling. [Ibn Nujaym, al-Ashbah wa al-Naza’ir]

The pictures portrayed on the packaging of a product are subsidiary to the product itself. Thus, if the product itself is permissible, a separate or alternate ruling is not singled out with its own ruling.

Summary

An example of this is purchasing undergarments. Many times, the packaging contains nude images of people wearing the product. It is permissible to buy the undergarment as explained, but it is advisable to remove or cover the packaging that contains pictures portraying nudity. This is closer to caution and prevents others in your household from accidentally seeing that nakedness.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.