Why Pop It Toys Are Not Haram with 3 Major Proofs
C.J Ahmed-08.04.2023
Pop it toys are brightly colored fidget toys with bubble trays. Such toys are not animate objects and it is completely inanimate hence making them fully halal to play in Islam. Even if the toys are animate objects, it is not haram to play due to the following three hadiths,
1) Al-Ismaa’eeli narrated in his Mu’jam from Ibn ‘Abbaas (Rali) that the Prophet (Sal) said: “The image is the head; if the head is cut off then there is no image.”
(Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami)
2) 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)
3) 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 will try to argue that selling toys is like selling idols or statues. Even if we agree for the sake of argument that selling toys of animate objects is haram, still there is evidence to prove that what ws haram was allowed to be sold.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
“Umar saw a silken cloak being sold in the market and he brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Buy this cloak and adorn yourself with it on the `Id festivals and on meeting the delegations." Allah's Messenger (sal) replied, "This is the dress for the one who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter)." After sometime had passed, Allah's Messenger (sal) sent a silken cloak to `Umar. `Umar took it and brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! You have said that this is the dress of that who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter), yet you have sent me this!" The Prophet (sal) said," I have sent it) so that you may sell it or fulfill with it some of your needs." (Sahih al Bukhari)
It is clear with all the above evidence from the authentic hadiths that selling toys of animate or inanimate objects is not haram in Islam and playing with pop it toys is also not haram.
Pop it toys are brightly colored fidget toys with bubble trays. Such toys are not animate objects and it is completely inanimate hence making them fully halal to play in Islam. Even if the toys are animate objects, it is not haram to play due to the following three hadiths,
1) Al-Ismaa’eeli narrated in his Mu’jam from Ibn ‘Abbaas (Rali) that the Prophet (Sal) said: “The image is the head; if the head is cut off then there is no image.”
(Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami)
2) 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)
3) 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 will try to argue that selling toys is like selling idols or statues. Even if we agree for the sake of argument that selling toys of animate objects is haram, still there is evidence to prove that what ws haram was allowed to be sold.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
“Umar saw a silken cloak being sold in the market and he brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! Buy this cloak and adorn yourself with it on the `Id festivals and on meeting the delegations." Allah's Messenger (sal) replied, "This is the dress for the one who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter)." After sometime had passed, Allah's Messenger (sal) sent a silken cloak to `Umar. `Umar took it and brought it to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (sal)! You have said that this is the dress of that who will have no share in the Hereafter (or, this is worn by one who will have no share in the Hereafter), yet you have sent me this!" The Prophet (sal) said," I have sent it) so that you may sell it or fulfill with it some of your needs." (Sahih al Bukhari)
It is clear with all the above evidence from the authentic hadiths that selling toys of animate or inanimate objects is not haram in Islam and playing with pop it toys is also not haram.