The Ruling on Children's Toys in the Shape of Animals

Question:
What is the ruling on boys' toys that are in the shape of animals?

Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding this. Some of them permitted it, and some of them forbade it. The most cautious course for the believer is not to take the well-known three-dimensional images that children play with. He should not take them, but rather replace them with the ordinary images that people used to make before, such as sticks on which they place something, or the like of that which does not have a three-dimensional image resembling the images that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed the maker of. That is, ordinary images that do not contain the image to which the hadith applies, a complete image with a head, eyes, nose, and the like. The Arabs in the past would make sticks or bones and put clothes on them with a stick across, as if it were its hands. These are things that do not resemble the image.
As for the image that exists now, it is clear in likening it to the creation of Allah. So some of the scholars prohibited it, even in the case of children, and some of the scholars permitted it in the case of children; because it is established that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) had girls, meaning toys, and she was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he approved of it for her.