Is it permissible to keep and display the stuffed head of an animal?

Answer

Although Mufti Mahmood (rahmatullah alayh) said that a stuffed animal is not in the hukm of Tasweer, he nevertheless maintained that it is not permissible to keep and display such stuffed images. Since he has clearly stated the ruling of impermissbility, there is no ambiguity. The fact is that it is not permissible.

However, we disagree with the view that it is not in the hukm of tasweer. Undoubted-

ly, it is in the hukm of tasweer to a greater degree on the basis of Dalaalatun Nass. The Illat (rationale) for the prohibition of tasweer exists par excellence in images of stuffed animals.

What does the Mufti say about statues and ornaments in the form of people and animals made from pottery, metal, glass, plastic, etc.? Are these statues permissible? Most assuredly the Mufti will say that statues of animate objects are haraam even if these are not idols of worship, and kept only as ornaments. On what basis are they haraam? All such images are in the hukm of soerat and tasweer.

It is not only mounting and displaying of statues which are haraam. The actual statues are

haraam whether displayed or kept enclosed in a box just as pictures are haraam whether displayed or enclosed in a photo album.

The prohibition of pictures and statues is not pivoted on their 'potentiality' of leading to idol worship. While this illat had existed, the actual hukm of hurmat is not dependent on the existence of this illat. A greater mansoos illat for the prohibition is Tashaabuh bi khalqillaah. In this context khalqillaah (the creation of Allah) on the basis of other Ahaadith refers specifically to animate objects. It excludes inanimate objects by Sareeh Nass.

That the illat for prohibition is not the potential of idol worship is apparent from the

fact that millions of people worship trees, stones, stars, and other peculiar inanimate objects. But this illat does not render pictures or statues of inanimate objects haraam. The actual hurmat is established by way of Ibaaratun Nass.The hurmat is not Ma'lool bil illat. Regardless of the purpose, images of animate objects are haraam.

Furthermore, Imaam Nawawi (rahmatullah alayh), in his Sharhul Muslim, Vol.2, Kitaabuz Zeenatwal Libaas, in Baabut Tahreemut Tasweer, has recorded Ijma' on the hurmat of three dimensional images (statues, ornaments and the like) which in the terminology of the Fuqaha are called 'Maa lahu zillun' (That which has a shadow)."

The stuffed head was a part of an animal when it was a portion of the living animal.

The stuffed head is not a mere skin. It is a perfect image of an animate object which was made by a human being who stuffed the skin and skull to give it its form. Since it is no longer a part of a living animal, it is moronic to say that it is not a haraam image (soerat). It resembles a statue in every aspect.

Thus, the fatwa should be that images – three dimensional images which include the heads of stuffed animals, are haraam per se, and are in the hukm of tasweer and soerat on the basis of Ibaaratun Nass to a greater degree than the applicability of the prohibition to pictures in view of the potential illat and the Mansoos Illat existing to a greater degree in three dimensional images than on two dimensional images, i.e. pictures. The honourable Muftis have missed this point and have erred.