The Law of Displaying Dolls in the House in Islam According to Ulama

It is forbidden to display dolls in the house in Islam. (X-Yokotamiki1227)

YOGYAKARTA - Many people make their homes a comfortable and aesthetic place, one of which is by adding decorations such as dolls. However, for Muslims, an important question arises, namely the law of displaying dolls in the house in Islam? Is this allowed or is it something that must be avoided? This question is inseparable from the discussion in fiqh regarding images, statues, and objects that resemble living beings. This article will briefly but clearly discuss the law based on the views of scholars.

At this time, dolls are not only synonymous with children's toys, but toys that can be enjoyed by all ages. Moreover, now there are blind boxes that are mostly enjoyed by adults.

Reported by Nu Online, from its history, the doll was much simpler in shape, made of clay, stone, wood, bone, ivory, leather, to wax. Some of these materials are still used to this day such as dolls made of clay, wood, or wax. However, for the safety of children and cost efficiency, some new materials have been developed and become the main choice for producing dolls, namely materials from processed fabrics or plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

The Law of Displaying Dolls at Home

Most scholars such as Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hambali argue that in Islam having a doll in the house is still allowed. So is Imam Nawawi in Syarh Muslim, both of them argue the same thing.

"That Islam prohibits making images and statues, except for children's dolls. Because there is a reason that shows leniency in this matter."

Al Qodhi 'Iyadh quoted this ability and said that this is the opinion of the majority of scholars. Likewise, Imam Nawawi followed this opinion in Syarh Muslim. He Rahimahullah said that those who are exempt from the prohibition of images or statues are children's dolls because there is a hadith that shows leniency in this matter.

The ability here is up to the toy in the form of a human or animal, whether it is three-dimensional or not, as well as those in the form of imagination that have no original existence such as a horse with wings.

However, the Hambali scholar gives the condition of his ability if there is no head or his body is not perfect so that it is not considered alive. While other scholars do not require such things.

The majority (read: the majority of scholars) reasoned with the exception above based on the hadith of ‘Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha, in which she said:

I used to play with the girls near the Prophet - peace be upon him - and I had a companion who used to play with me, so when the Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - entered, they would stop playing with him and come to me to play with me.

"I used to play with dolls on the side of the Prophet shallallahu 'alaihi wa salam. I have several friends who used to play with me. When the Prophet shallallahu 'alaihi wa salam entered the house, they hid from him. Then he handed the toys to me one by one then they played with me" (HR. Bukhari no. 6130)

Ibnu Hajar Al Asqolani rahimahullah said, "The scholars have argued with this hadith that it is permissible to have a female image (or statue or doll) and it is permissible to have toys for girls. This hadith is an exception to the general hadith that prohibits making a counterpart similar to God's creation. This ability is emphasized by Al Qodhi 'Iyadh and he said that this is the opinion of the majority of scholars." (Fathul Bari, 10: 527)

Meanwhile, Ibnu Hajar argues that the ability to play with dolls like this has been mansukh (removed). However, another hadith of 'Aisyah shows that the claim of mansukh is not appropriate.

‘Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha narrated,

The Messenger of Allah - peace be upon him - came from the conquest of Tabuk or Khaybar and in his leisure he had a veil, so a wind blew and revealed the opening of the veil from the daughters of 'Aishah to Lu'ab, so he said, "What is this, O 'Aishah?" She said, "My daughters." And he saw between them a horse with a saddle of wool, so he said, "What is this that I see and the middle of them?" She said, "A horse." He said, "And what is this on it?" She said, "A saddle." He said, "And what is this that you have heard that Sulaiman had a horse for her, he said, "I laughed until I saw his nose.

"The Messenger of Allah shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam once arrived from the Tabuk or Khoibar war, while 'Aisha's room was closed with a covering cloth. When there was a wind blowing, the cloth was uncovered until 'Aisha's doll was visible. He then asked, "O 'Aisha, what is this?" 'Aisha replied, "It's my doll." Then he also saw a horse statue that had two wings. He asked, "Then what did I see in the middle of this doll?" 'Aisha replied, "A horse doll." He asked again, "Then what is on top of it?" 'Aisha replied, "Two wings." He asked again, "Horses have two wings!" 'Aisha replied, "Haven't you ever heard that King Solomon had a horse that had many wings?" 'Aisha said, "He then laughed until I could see his teeth." (HR. Abu Daud no. 4932 and An Nasai in Al Kubro no. 890. Al Hafizh Abu Thohir said that the chain of this hadith is hasan)

This hadith was told after the Prophet Muhammad shallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam returned from the Tabuk war. This already shows that this hadith was not mansukh (deleted) because it came later.

Ulama Syafi'iyah, Malikiyah, and Hambali reasoned with the exception that the toy was allowed because there was a need to educate children. Therefore, from the explanation above, it means that dolls are allowed for girls' toys in order to educate them so that girls can become more loving.

The law of displaying dolls in the house in Islam is not a completely black-and-white matter, but has details and differences of opinion among scholars. In general, dolls used as children's toys get a relaxation, while dolls used as decorations need to be considered in terms of shape, purpose, and level of similarity with living beings. The best attitude is to take the middle ground while maintaining caution and not being excessive in decorating the house. The house not only becomes beautiful physically, but also still brings blessings and peace to its inhabitants.

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