The ruling on selling a wrapped item whose name is written on it

The questioner : How is it that some goods nowadays come wrapped? They come wrapped, yes, placed in a case and a box that cannot be opened. You buy it, or you don’t buy it. If you open the box, you have to pay its value. Its name is on the outside, like that, but the owner of the shop does not allow you to [open it].

The Shaykh : But it is known. If it differs from what is written on the box, you return it.

The questioner : Yes, but it is fine. Some books come to you wrapped, and you do not know; its name is written, the name of the book, but you do not know what the subject matter inside is.

The Shaykh : No, that is not permissible. You do not know what to do with it. But if you know that it is Subul al-Salam and it is wrapped, then if it differs, you have the right to return it, because it is a defect.