Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza
Question:
What is the Islamic ruling on the business of soft toys especially octopus, teddy bears, birds, stuffed animals, plushies, etc? Is it completely haraam or Makruh? Please also elaborate what will be consequences separately if it is haraam or Makruh in terms of Akhirah. Lastly, since I have already started the business, what should I do with the profit?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
There are various Ahadith regarding this topic:
Narrated Abu Talha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Angels do not enter a house that has either a dog or a picture in it.”[1]
Narrated Aisha:
I bought a cushion having on it pictures (of animals). When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saw it, he stood at the door and did not enter. I noticed the sign of disapproval on his face and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I repent to Allah and His Apostle. What sin have I committed?’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said. “What is this cushion?” I said, “I have bought it for you so that you may sit on it and recline on it.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The makers of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, ‘Give life to what you have created (i.e., these pictures).’ ” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “The Angels of (Mercy) do not enter a house in which there are pictures (of animals).[2]
As mentioned above it is completely impermissible to keep these types of objects and the punishment will be severe in terms of the hereafter, the person will be asked to give life to the object which will never be possible, as for the profit made from the business it will be halal for you and the business of selling toys itself is permissible but Makruh to indulge in according to the majority of scholars[3].
Only Allah knows best
Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Bukhari, Hadith 3322, Qadeemi Kutub Khaanah,
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَفِظْتُهُ مِنَ الزُّهْرِيِّ كَمَا أَنَّكَ هَا هُنَا أَخْبَرَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ ـ رضى الله عنهم ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ ”.
[2] Bukhari, Hadith 5181,
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا اشْتَرَتْ نُمْرُقَةً فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَامَ عَلَى الْبَابِ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ، فَعَرَفْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْكَرَاهِيَةَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ، مَاذَا أَذْنَبْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” مَا بَالُ هَذِهِ النِّمْرِقَةِ ”. قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ اشْتَرَيْتُهَا لَكَ لِتَقْعُدَ عَلَيْهَا وَتَوَسَّدَهَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ هَذِهِ الصُّوَرِ يُعَذَّبُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ أَحْيُوا مَا خَلَقْتُمْ ”. وَقَالَ ” إِنَّ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي فِيهِ الصُّوَرُ لاَ تَدْخُلُهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ ”.
[3] Jawaahirul Fiqh, Maktabah Darul Uloom Karachi,Vol 7, Pg. 264.