Making containers in the shape of an elephant
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Fatwa number ( 20203 )
Q: Attached to our letter to Your Eminence is a sample of the plastic containers intended for filling ice cream, and we are required to produce
quantities of them for one of the national factories working in this field. Since the shape of the container depicts an elephant, but with some deformities, as it is only a head, and the trunk is attached to the face, and it does not contain tusks, we were afraid that it might be among the things forbidden by the Shari'ah. So we thought it best to address Your Eminence to seek a ruling on the permissibility of manufacturing the container from plastic material in our facility, or not. Also: Is that absolutely forbidden, or merely disliked? We have read many opinions in this matter, through which we were unable to arrive at a clear understanding of the truth of the case.
A: After reviewing the question, the Committee issued a ruling that it is not permissible to make the container in the shape mentioned in the question; because it is a statue of an animal's head and face, and this is the reality of the forbidden image; because it is an image of the face. The scholars have agreed on the prohibition of making statues, keeping them, and selling them; because of the resemblance to the creation of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Many authentic hadiths have been narrated cursing the image-makers, that they are the most severely punished people on the Day of Resurrection, and that they will be tasked with blowing the soul into every image they made in this world, and they are not blowers, and a soul will be assigned to them for every image they made in this world, by which they will be tormented in the Hellfire. We seek refuge in Allah from His anger and punishment. It is obligatory to refrain from this work, and to make containers that have no objection in them.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Attached to our letter to Your Eminence is a sample of the plastic containers intended for filling ice cream, and we are required to produce
quantities of them for one of the national factories working in this field. Since the shape of the container depicts an elephant, but with some deformities, as it is only a head, and the trunk is attached to the face, and it does not contain tusks, we were afraid that it might be among the things forbidden by the Shari'ah. So we thought it best to address Your Eminence to seek a ruling on the permissibility of manufacturing the container from plastic material in our facility, or not. Also: Is that absolutely forbidden, or merely disliked? We have read many opinions in this matter, through which we were unable to arrive at a clear understanding of the truth of the case.
A: After reviewing the question, the Committee issued a ruling that it is not permissible to make the container in the shape mentioned in the question; because it is a statue of an animal's head and face, and this is the reality of the forbidden image; because it is an image of the face. The scholars have agreed on the prohibition of making statues, keeping them, and selling them; because of the resemblance to the creation of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Many authentic hadiths have been narrated cursing the image-makers, that they are the most severely punished people on the Day of Resurrection, and that they will be tasked with blowing the soul into every image they made in this world, and they are not blowers, and a soul will be assigned to them for every image they made in this world, by which they will be tormented in the Hellfire. We seek refuge in Allah from His anger and punishment. It is obligatory to refrain from this work, and to make containers that have no objection in them.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.