Can I Buy From Companies That Have Bad Names?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
There are some companies I used to buy clothing from but have stopped because I have found out they are either having charities to, for example, support mental health in the LGBTQ community (so, therefore, supporting that community) or they would have names which have a haram meaning e.g Nike meaning a greek goddess or Billini meaning an alcoholic beverage, etc. Every time I want to buy something from a company, I now look into the meaning of the clothing brand name and then try and find out if they are holding any charities because I don’t want my money to contribute to something haram, etc. I feel like it has become difficult to shop.
Are these actions of mine necessary?
Answer
I pray you are well.
No, they are not necessary, and you are making things needlessly difficult for yourself. A historical association of a company’s name with an unknown false deity doesn’t affect you, and most people don’t even know of this association. Ignore it, and buy what you need to buy. You don’t need to have the name all over the clothing you buy, either.
With the companies that contribute to the LGBQT mental health causes, you can intend you buy what you need and help your fellow human beings. That is a good intention and not the same as agreeing with everything they say.
An ethical boycott is one matter, and merely refraining from purchasing from someone for vague or irrelevant reasons is another. The former is a personal choice and can be beneficial. The latter just makes life difficult for yourself. Make life easy for yourself; there are enough challenges for the Believer in the modern world.
May Allah facilitate all matters for you.
Related Links
Am I Allowed to Sell Products that Have Unislamic Names?
Is It Idolatry to Buy Things With a Brand Named After a Greek Goddess?
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
