The Supreme Council for Islamic Fatwa has issued a fatwa, declaring the placement of statues or monuments depicting living beings as Haram (forbidden in Islam). To clarify the Islamic ruling on placing images of living beings as monuments and to ascertain the position of Islamic Sharia on this matter, the Council has also published a scholarly paper based on the findings of extensive academic research.
The fatwa elaborates that Hadith traditions indicate that as the Day of Judgment approaches, some individuals will revert to idol worship. Therefore, the fatwa states that any action that could lead to Shirk (polytheism) is impermissible. Referencing this, the fatwa highlights that there is a scholarly consensus (Ijma’) among Islamic scholars that making and placing statues is forbidden. The reasons for this prohibition include the deprivation of blessings from angels, the potential for leading to Shirk, and the act of attempting to emulate Allah’s creation.
The Council further states that the significance of this matter is evident from the fact that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), upon conquering Mecca, dispatched his companions to destroy idols such as Manat, Uzza, and Lat. Moreover, even after his passing, the companions continued to give special importance to this prohibition, underscoring its gravity.
Additionally, the fatwa from the Council explains that idol worship initially emerged from objects made in memory of righteous individuals, eventually leading people astray due to the loss of knowledge. Recognizing the severe danger of this, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) prayed for protection for himself and his descendants from idol worship.
According to the fatwa, toys used by children are an exception to this ruling. Scholars view this as permissible, serving as a means for young girls to be trained in household matters and childcare from an early age.
A fatwa represents the final pronouncement by a specialized committee regarding religious matters. The Supreme Council for Islamic Fatwa states in its fatwa that this decision was reached after thorough study by the Council members and after consulting the fatwas of international Islamic fatwa councils.
