What is the ruling on children's toys, given that I have a daughter who is attached to toys that are pieces of cloth sewn together and stuffed with cotton, making them look like little girls?
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The questioner : What is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, regarding children's toys? I have a daughter who is attached to these toys, which are pieces of cloth sewn together and stuffed with cotton, making them look like little girls. My daughter plays with these toys as if they were small children. I tried to keep her away from such toys for fear that there might be something prohibited. I ask the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab, may Allah reward him, to please answer.
The Shaykh : Children's toys were established by the Sunnah in general. 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had dolls that she played with during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If the toy does not represent a complete image, but is merely cotton, wool, or something similar that is stuffed, with dots on top representing a feature or the like, then there is nothing wrong with it and no blame on you. Girls play with such toys for amusement, joy, and to practice serving them thoroughly; they make a bed and pillow for them, place them under a fan in the summer to cool them, cover them with blankets in the winter, and perhaps place them in front of an air conditioner for heating in winter or cooling in summer. She feels as if it is a real girl. There is no doubt that this provides her with training for raising children in the future, gives her tenderness toward whoever will actually be her child, and provides amusement, joy, and happiness. For this reason, you will find her addressing it as one would address a person of sound mind.
For the sake of these benefits, the Lawgiver permitted such toys. As for toys that represent an image as if it were real, having a head, nose, and eyes, and perhaps having movements like walking or sounds and the like, it is obligatory for one who is afflicted with something of this kind to alter the image by bringing it close to the fire until it softens, then pressing it until the facial features disappear and it is no longer distinguishable as resembling a real image.
Some scholars are lenient in this matter, citing the generality of the cases rather than the generality of the wording, because there is no general wording. Their view is that the purpose of these images is to amuse children and the benefits mentioned previously. However, it is better for a person to leave things in which there is doubt than to engage in them.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Children's toys were established by the Sunnah in general. 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) had dolls that she played with during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). If the toy does not represent a complete image, but is merely cotton, wool, or something similar that is stuffed, with dots on top representing a feature or the like, then there is nothing wrong with it and no blame on you. Girls play with such toys for amusement, joy, and to practice serving them thoroughly; they make a bed and pillow for them, place them under a fan in the summer to cool them, cover them with blankets in the winter, and perhaps place them in front of an air conditioner for heating in winter or cooling in summer. She feels as if it is a real girl. There is no doubt that this provides her with training for raising children in the future, gives her tenderness toward whoever will actually be her child, and provides amusement, joy, and happiness. For this reason, you will find her addressing it as one would address a person of sound mind.
For the sake of these benefits, the Lawgiver permitted such toys. As for toys that represent an image as if it were real, having a head, nose, and eyes, and perhaps having movements like walking or sounds and the like, it is obligatory for one who is afflicted with something of this kind to alter the image by bringing it close to the fire until it softens, then pressing it until the facial features disappear and it is no longer distinguishable as resembling a real image.
Some scholars are lenient in this matter, citing the generality of the cases rather than the generality of the wording, because there is no general wording. Their view is that the purpose of these images is to amuse children and the benefits mentioned previously. However, it is better for a person to leave things in which there is doubt than to engage in them.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.