The Islamic Jurisprudence Council has issued an official fatwa declaring that keeping statues and monuments made in the form of living beings is haram (forbidden). An academic paper has been prepared and published based on scholarly studies to clarify the Islamic Shariah position on this matter.

The council noted that hadiths indicate some people will resume idol worship as the Day of Judgment approaches. For this reason, the fatwa states that any action that could lead to shirk (polytheism) is not permissible. According to scholarly consensus (ijma’), making and keeping statues is forbidden, the fatwa explains, citing the main reasons as: deprivation of angels’ blessings, opening the door to shirk, and imitating Allah’s creation.

The significance of this is demonstrated by historical evidence that the Prophet (PBUH) sent companions to destroy idols like Manat, Uzza, and Lat on the day Makkah was conquered, and that the companions gave special attention to this matter even after the Prophet’s passing. The fatwa also explains that idol worship began when people who lost religious knowledge misused items made in memory of righteous servants, leading them astray.

However, dolls used by children for play are exempt from this ruling. According to scholars’ view, this is permissible as a way to train young girls from an early age in household matters and childcare. The council states this decision was made after members conducted studies and reviewed fatwas from international Islamic jurisprudence councils.