Decorating homes with figurines

Reference: Fataawa Islaamiyyah – Volume 1, Page 39

Question: What is the ruling on decorating homes with figurines that are not kept in houses for the purpose of worship?

Response: It is not permissible to display pictures, nor keep taxidermy or stuffed animals in homes or offices or places of gathering – as implied by the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ that indicate the prohibition of displaying pictures or keeping statues or figurines in homes or elsewhere. This is because it is a means to shirk, and competing with Allaah in terms of creation, and imitating the enemies of Allaah. Stuffed animals are also a waste of money and a pretext to displaying or keeping statues. The complete Sharee’ah was established to close all the doors to the means which lead to shirk or sinful practices.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family and his companions.

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.