Question :
What is the ruling of buying toys which are formed in the manner of animals?
Answer :
These toys which are in the form of a man or are in the form of animals, they are in reality taking the form of pictures which have souls. And therefore this is not permissible. So if it’s from plastic or metals or these types of equipment, then they are closer to being like an idol. So the selling of these idols in these forms are haram. It’s selling and it’s buying are not permissible.
As for if it’s from cotton or clothing and these types of things, and it’s clearly a picture or animal or a person, then also it’s befitting that this act is to be refrained from. For indeed the Angels do not enter a house which has within it a dog or pictures :
The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam said,
‘Angels do not enter a house in which there are dogs or pictures’. (Sahih-Al-Bukhari, 7.833, Narrated by Abu Talha)
Hadith 7.834 (Al-Bukhari Hadith)
And no doubt of these things which are found among us which are made from these types of sources, they are not like the ones which are found during the times of the sahabah, which the children used to play with. For indeed that which is found in our times are clear realistic forms which are very close to a picture of either the person or these animals which they make.
So this is different from that which used to take place before in putting together some form of fabric and some cotton and playing with it. This is different from that which is taking place today. And even if at that time they made it into a form of a horse or something close to it, it’s nothing near to that which they are able to do in getting the clear realistic form of that which they are trying to draw. And with that, we advise that we refrain from the buying of these types of toys. And if something from this is found in the homes, then the least one can do is remove its head. Remove its head, due to the hadeeth:
Abu Daawood, at-Tirmidhee and an-Nasaa’ee have reported, with a good (jayyid) chain of narrators, on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Jibreel (Gabriel) came to me and said: I came to you last night and was prevented from entering simply by the fact that there were images/statues (tamaatheel) at the door, and there was in the house a curtain with images/pictures (tamaatheel) on it; and there was a dog in the house. So, order that the head of the statue (timthaal) which is in the house be cut off so that it may become like the form of a tree; order that the curtain be cut up and made into two cushions spread out on which people walk; and order that the dog be put out. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then did so”.
So that our houses are free from these things which prohibit the Angels alayhimus-salaam from entering our houses. Also, that the upbringing and the teaching of our children would be an upbringing of a teaching which is islaamic, based upon the Islamic Shariah. And also a tarbiyyah which is correct and also upon Iman.
Answered by : Shaykh Abdullah Aryani