It is only fair to show there is another opinion:
In the Name of God The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
The Arab Republic of Egypt
Legal Opinion ( Ifta’a) Institute
Mufti’s Office
Thanks to God only and prayers and greetings on whom after there is no prophet.
We reviewed the request made by Mr. Mahmoud Hamdy, the Regional
Technical External Affairs Manager at the Coca-Cola Company registered under
number 431 for the year 2000.
The inquirer says:
There have recently been rumors regarding our company’s logo accusing us of
injuring the true Islamic religion. These rumors stress that reading our
company’s logo upside down (in front of a mirror) is a lessening of the status of
the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him and of the Noble Kaaba (God Forbid). The
inquirer asks if the enclosed logo injures Islam or not?
The Answer
God says in his book and he is the truest of speakers ( Koran). ( Koran). The
Prophet Peace Be Upon Him says, showing the danger of talking about a person
or society in a way that harms them or spoils the relationship between them
without proof. “ He who believes in God and the Day of Judgement, must be
generous with his neighbor, and he who believes in God and the Day of
Judgement must be generous with his guest, and he who believes in God and the
Day of Judgement must say something good or keep silent,”.
These texts from the Koran and the noble Prophet’s Sunna urge Moslems in
every age and everywhere to refer back to God’s book and his Prophet’s sunna
and the responsible officials from Islamic scientists and specialists if they
disagree about an issue. The texts urge Moslems not to spread unfair rumors,
false accusations, and untrue sayings which aim at harming peoples’ interests in
general or someone’s interest in particular at all times and at all places without
having a legal proof that they are true. This aims to shake confidence in what is
allowed and fixed and existing between people. The believer is also true in his
belief and he should thus- as a result of his belief- not say except good and not
speak except truth and not speak about something without proof. A word spoken by someone can place him in hell for 70 years as said by the Prophet, Peace be
Upon Him.
In answer to the question: Coca-Cola Egypt’s trademark- whose logo has been
attached to the request- was reviewed by legal opinion (Ifta’e) committees at the
Egyptian Ifta’e Institute. The committees were composed of the Institute’s
consultants and researchers. The trademark was also reviewed by numerous
members of the public who visited the Institute. The trademark was likewise
reviewed in an extended meeting headed by the Mufti of the Republic. This logo
was studied from all its aspects in this meeting and none of the researchers,
university professors or members of the public found any injury done the true
Islamic religion directly or indirectly. The legal rule is that things are allowed
unless there is a text disallowing it. It became clear to us that this trademark for
which a legal opinion was requested, was designed more than 114 years ago and
no one objected to it until today. The trademark was used in more than 200
Islamic and non-Islamic countries throughout the world. The trademark was
originally designed more than 114 years ago in cities in the State of Georgia in
the United States. It was designed for non-Moslems who do not know Islam’s
origins and branches. This trademark was not changed since it was designed until
now. It is written in a foreign language and not in Arabic and all this proves that
this trademark does not injure Islam or Moslems directly or indirectly because
Islam’s rules stipulate justice between all people. Those who spread these rumors
should fear God in their religion and country and fear God in all their sayings
and actions because such a rumor can harm their country and their religion
(Islam) more than it benefits it. This is because it leads to the displacement of
thousands of workers in the company and harms their families and children.
Islam totally banned harming persons’, the nation’s and peoples’ interests. The
Prophet Peace be Upon Him said: “ Do not harm yourself and do not harm
others”. Moslems now really need to protect their economy, increase their
production, protect their workers’ rights, and the strength of their unity so they
can become a power that can protect their nation from their enemies’ envy and
to reach the highest level of advancement and prosperity in ( Koran) and
( Koran).
If this is your question,
The preceding text is the answer,
And God is highest and more knowledgeable
Professor Doctor Nasser Farid Wassel
Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt
10/5/2000
Registered under number 39/28 A ( Masaleh)
Dated 6 Safar 1421 Hijri
May 10, 2000
SOURCE:
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/c...nt_English.pdf
Now for Clarity here is Coca Cola written in Arabic:
I do not support the drinking of Coca Cola and think we should all avoid it, but let us avoid based on factual reasons and not in playing with language and alphabet illusions.