#1033: On The Ruling Of Kids Playing With Dolls Or Toys
Salamualaykum, I will like to know if teddy bear or other animated objects is permissible for children to play with in Islam? Thank you.
ANSWER:
Alhamdulillahi!
A teddy bear is a stuffed toy in the form of a bear. It was developed by toymakers in the Us and it was named after president Theodore Teddy Roosevelt.
Know that, It is reported from Aisha radiyallahu anha who said:
كُنْتُ أَلْعَبُ بِالْبَنَاتِ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَكَانَ لِي صَوَاحِبُ يَلْعَبْنَ مَعِي، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ يَتَقَمَّعْنَ مِنْهُ، فَيُسَرِّبُهُنَّ إِلَىَّ فَيَلْعَبْنَ مَعِي.
I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet,(Salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah’s Messenger Salallāhu alayhi wasallam used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me.
Transmitted by Imām Al-Būkhārī#6130.
The ulama upheld different opinion regarding the permissibility of children playing with dolls. Majority of the Ulama, as stated by ‘iyyād, upheld its permissibility because of the Hadith of ‘Aisha Radiyallāhu anha above.
Al-khattābi said:
This Hadith shows playing with Toys is not of those images which were forbidden, but it was allowed for ‘Aisha at that time as she has not yet reached the age of puberty.
Fat’hul Bārī.
While others upheld that the ruling of it’s permissibility is abrobagated and this is the opinion of ibn battāl and it was said that Mālik dislikes buying dolls for children. And some said that it’s permissibility was valid before it was forbidden. While others said the dolls are only allowed for children when they are in the image of animals not humans.
However, the opinion of the majority of the Ulama is the strongest opinion, In Sha Allah. But one should beware of hanging them in the house, for it is against the Sunnah.
In this regard, it was also reported from Aisha Radiyallahu anha who said:
The Rasul sallahu alayhi visited me. and I had a shelf with a thin cloth curtain hangin over it and on which there were portraits. No sooner did he see it than he tore it and the colour of his face underwent a change and he said: A’isha, the most grievous torment from the Hand of Allah on the Day of Resurrection would be for those who imitate (Allah) in the act of His creation. A’isha said: We tore it into pieces and made a cushion or two cushions out of that.
Hence, It was just made permissible for children in order to train them on how to care for children later in the future. Thus, the rukhsa should not be used out of context.
Allāhu A’alām
Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu khayran
Abū Yahya
16th Shawwal, 1441AH.
📚 IslāmNode
