Why Lego Toys Are Halal in Islam with 2 Convincing Proofs
C.J Ahmed-07.04.2023
Lego are construction toys either made with metal or plastic and has been used for decades by both children and adults for entertainment and to enhance ones creativity. The argument that using lego toys is haram come from those who prohibit picture making. Based on the teachings of the Quran and the authentic hdiths, there is nothing wrong in using lego toys. Lego toys are completely halal in Islam. A famous Islamic fatwa website, islamqa.org gave an erroneous fatwa stating that lego toys are disliked. The fatwa is quoted as follows,
“There are numerous hadith that prohibit pictures and figures that resemble living beings.
For example, in a Hadith recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in his Sahih, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:
“The most severely punished on the Day of Qiyamah will be those who make (animate) pictures.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
With that being said, there are some other hadith that mentioned Aisha (r.a) herself had dolls. (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Some of the Ulema have stated that Aisha (RA) doll was not like the ones used today and if they were, they would not be permitted for her to use as well.
Ibn Hajr (RA) said, “If the doll of A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) had clear features, then this was before the prohibition of picture-making, otherwise the doll did have prominent features.” (Fath al-Bari)
Other Ulama have used this hadith as well as the hadith of Bukhari that grants the exemption “except for a small engraving in clothing.” stating that if the object is small and has no significant value nor is being revered in any way then it will not be considered completely haram.
In such a case, it is best to refrain from usage of such toys, but it would be difficult to deem it haram. It is best to consider it disliked and people are encouraged to refrain.” (https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa-birmingham/170665/are-lego-minifigures-permissible/)
My answer
These websites give fatws based on the wrong opinions of madhhabs and they themselves are blind followers of madhhabs. First of all, for you to come to a conclusion in Islam on whether something is haram or not, you should bring all the available authentic proofs to the table ith out cherry picking haiths to suite ones foolish worldview and this is what the above fatwa website has done by going with the flow.
First Convincing Proof
Aisha (rali) narrated
"I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet (Sal). And I had girl-friends (playmates) who played along with me. They would hide (feeling shy) from him (Sal) whenever he entered. But, he ( Prophet (Sal)) would call them to join and play with me"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith, Aisha(rali) was plying with dolls which are animate figures and the prophet (sal) never objected to it.
Aisha(Rali) narrated
Then the side of the curtain which was over the dolls of 'Aa'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) was uncovered. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: What is this, O 'Aa'isha? She said: My dolls. She then said: then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw amongst them a winged horse which was tied up. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: What is this? I said: A horse. He said: A horse with two wings? I said: Didn't you hear that Sulaiman (Solomon - peace be upon him) had horses with wings? Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) laughed" (in another narration his teeth could be seen because of his laughter)
(Sahih Sunan Abu Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani in Ghaayat al-Maraam)
Some scholars erroneously argue that this incident took place before the prohibition of images. Ibn Hajar raheemaullah was one of them. He said in his Fath Al Bari,
“If the doll of Aisha (Rali) had clear features, then this was before the prohibition of picture-making, otherwise the doll did have prominent features”.
This is only his opinion based on mere assumptions. There is no evidence from the Quran or sunnah saying so. The other wrong argument is that this was permissible for Aisha (Rali) because she had not attained puberty. This is also erroneuos because the hadiths does not make any such distinctions between an adult an a child and there is no evidence whether such an incidence happened before Aisha (Rali)'s puberty.
Second Convincing Proof
A'isha (Rali) narrated :
"We had a curtain with us which had portraits of birds upon it. Whenever a visitor came, he found them in front of him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Change them, for whenever I enter the room) I see them and it brings to my mind (the pleasures) of worldly life. She said: We had with us a sheet which had silk badges upon it and we used to wear it. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanna but with this addition: 'Allah's Messenger (Rali) did not command us to tear that."
(Sahih Muslim)
If having pictures of animate beings was such a strict matter, the prophet (sal) would have not acted so leniently. In the above hadith the prophet (Sal) ordered Aisha (Rali) to remove the images not because it was forbidden but because it was reminding him of worldy pleasures. Funko pops toys are not haram.
Playing with lego toys is not haram in Islam and Muslims should keep way from those who are dogmatic and be pragmatic because Islam is a pragmatic and liberal religion.
Lego are construction toys either made with metal or plastic and has been used for decades by both children and adults for entertainment and to enhance ones creativity. The argument that using lego toys is haram come from those who prohibit picture making. Based on the teachings of the Quran and the authentic hdiths, there is nothing wrong in using lego toys. Lego toys are completely halal in Islam. A famous Islamic fatwa website, islamqa.org gave an erroneous fatwa stating that lego toys are disliked. The fatwa is quoted as follows,
“There are numerous hadith that prohibit pictures and figures that resemble living beings.
For example, in a Hadith recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in his Sahih, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:
“The most severely punished on the Day of Qiyamah will be those who make (animate) pictures.” (Sahih al-Bukhari).
With that being said, there are some other hadith that mentioned Aisha (r.a) herself had dolls. (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Some of the Ulema have stated that Aisha (RA) doll was not like the ones used today and if they were, they would not be permitted for her to use as well.
Ibn Hajr (RA) said, “If the doll of A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) had clear features, then this was before the prohibition of picture-making, otherwise the doll did have prominent features.” (Fath al-Bari)
Other Ulama have used this hadith as well as the hadith of Bukhari that grants the exemption “except for a small engraving in clothing.” stating that if the object is small and has no significant value nor is being revered in any way then it will not be considered completely haram.
In such a case, it is best to refrain from usage of such toys, but it would be difficult to deem it haram. It is best to consider it disliked and people are encouraged to refrain.” (https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa-birmingham/170665/are-lego-minifigures-permissible/)
My answer
These websites give fatws based on the wrong opinions of madhhabs and they themselves are blind followers of madhhabs. First of all, for you to come to a conclusion in Islam on whether something is haram or not, you should bring all the available authentic proofs to the table ith out cherry picking haiths to suite ones foolish worldview and this is what the above fatwa website has done by going with the flow.
First Convincing Proof
Aisha (rali) narrated
"I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet (Sal). And I had girl-friends (playmates) who played along with me. They would hide (feeling shy) from him (Sal) whenever he entered. But, he ( Prophet (Sal)) would call them to join and play with me"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
In this hadith, Aisha(rali) was plying with dolls which are animate figures and the prophet (sal) never objected to it.
Aisha(Rali) narrated
Then the side of the curtain which was over the dolls of 'Aa'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) was uncovered. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: What is this, O 'Aa'isha? She said: My dolls. She then said: then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw amongst them a winged horse which was tied up. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: What is this? I said: A horse. He said: A horse with two wings? I said: Didn't you hear that Sulaiman (Solomon - peace be upon him) had horses with wings? Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) laughed" (in another narration his teeth could be seen because of his laughter)
(Sahih Sunan Abu Dawud-Graded Sahih by Albani in Ghaayat al-Maraam)
Some scholars erroneously argue that this incident took place before the prohibition of images. Ibn Hajar raheemaullah was one of them. He said in his Fath Al Bari,
“If the doll of Aisha (Rali) had clear features, then this was before the prohibition of picture-making, otherwise the doll did have prominent features”.
This is only his opinion based on mere assumptions. There is no evidence from the Quran or sunnah saying so. The other wrong argument is that this was permissible for Aisha (Rali) because she had not attained puberty. This is also erroneuos because the hadiths does not make any such distinctions between an adult an a child and there is no evidence whether such an incidence happened before Aisha (Rali)'s puberty.
Second Convincing Proof
A'isha (Rali) narrated :
"We had a curtain with us which had portraits of birds upon it. Whenever a visitor came, he found them in front of him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to me: Change them, for whenever I enter the room) I see them and it brings to my mind (the pleasures) of worldly life. She said: We had with us a sheet which had silk badges upon it and we used to wear it. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanna but with this addition: 'Allah's Messenger (Rali) did not command us to tear that."
(Sahih Muslim)
If having pictures of animate beings was such a strict matter, the prophet (sal) would have not acted so leniently. In the above hadith the prophet (Sal) ordered Aisha (Rali) to remove the images not because it was forbidden but because it was reminding him of worldy pleasures. Funko pops toys are not haram.
Playing with lego toys is not haram in Islam and Muslims should keep way from those who are dogmatic and be pragmatic because Islam is a pragmatic and liberal religion.