Ruling on buying products on which there are images
Question

                What is the ruling on buying sweets or products on which there are images of animate beings?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Buying these things, if they are bought because of those 
    images, is haraam, because that is acquiring images, which prevents the 
    angels from entering the house. 

    Undoubtedly it is better for the Muslim to keep away from 
    everything that may cause the angels not to enter the house. 

    But if most of these things have images on them, and it is 
    hard for the Muslim to find products that do not have any images on them, 
    then there is no sin in that in sha Allaah, so as to ward off hardship from 
    the Muslims. 

    It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (12/112): 

    The Maalikis have two views on the production of images which 
    are not meant to last, such as those that are made of dough. The more well 
    known view is that it is not allowed. Both views were narrated by al-‘Adawi, 
    and he said: Those who say that it is permissible are referring to things 
    made of dough or melon peel, because when it dries out it breaks. 

    According to the Shaafa’is, it is haraam to make it but it is 
    not haraam to sell it. End quote. 

    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
    al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (2/203): 

    Nowadays the problem is widespread and it is common to find 
    images on everything, except in rare cases. They are to be found on vessels, 
    food containers, books, newspapers and everything except what which Allaah 
    wills. There are also images that can be eaten, such as biscuits in the 
    shape of fish and rabbits. We say: if a person keeps the images (i.e., he 
    keeps the things because of the images on them), this is undoubtedly haraam. 
    If he buys magazines which publish images because of the images, this is 
    also haraam, but if he buys them for knowledge and to read the news, we hope 
    that there is nothing wrong with that, because of hardship. Allaah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “and [Allaah] has not laid upon you in religion any 
    hardship”

    [al-Hajj 22:78]

    These images should not be the aim when a person buys 
    something, and he should not be concerned with them at all. With regard to 
    vessels and food boxes, etc., it may be said that these pictures are not 
    being treated with respect, so there is no need to regard them as haraam. 

    And Allaah knows best.