Fataawa on Kids' Cartoons and Dolls

Shaykh Abu Usaamah Wasiullaah ‘Abbaas حفظه الله تعالى
 

Introduction to the Shaykh

Shaykh Abu Usaamah Wasiullaah ‘Abbaas حفظه الله تعالى is a well-known scholar from Makkah. He is a teacher at Masjidul-Haram and a professor at Ummul-Quraa University. He is a regular lecturer at AlBaseerah.org and an OIC (Online Intensive Courses) teacher where he teaches the Fiqh class every third Saturday (of the month) when he explains ad-Durrar al-Bahiyyah.

These fataawa are from the Q&A after the Shaykh's lecture:

Question: Is it permissible to let children watch Arabic cartoons for teaching purpose?

Answer: Regarding the children watching cartoons for teaching purposes as mentioned in the question i.e. as a form of educating the children, then Inshaa’Allaah there is nothing wrong with this. Perhaps allowing the children to watch cartoons for educational purposes may be a breath of fresh air for the children and also a breath of fresh air for the parent. It may give them some time to enjoy themselves and time to play apart from the normal ways of teaching. This is if it was as mentioned in the question i.e. if it is used for educational purpose.

    However, you find that there are certain cartoons which teach children how to steal and how to kill and there are cartoons which have no benefit in them; these types are those which the parent should keep their children away from as this is nurturing which is not beneficial. Rather, it will corrupt the children, and it is incumbent upon the parent to keep their children away from these types of cartoons. As for the cartoons that the children can benefit from as a form of teaching and educational tool then Inshaa’Allaah there is nothing wrong with this.


 
Question: Is it permissible for little girls to play with baby dolls? Some parents say that these are images or could be used as idols. This is what is commonly mentioned in America in relation to these types of toys such as the Barbie dolls, and here in Saudi Arabia they have what is called the Fula dolls which could probably be better because she is a Muslim, she has a khimaar, a jilbaab and everything else. However, the point is that some parents remove the head from the doll and then give it to the child, making it undesirable for the child to play with as the child doesn’t want to play with a doll without a head. Is this type of doll to be looked at as an idol or an image or something that is impermissible for the children to play with?

Answer: If this toy or doll is the type of doll which is magnified or glorified like ‘China dolls’ or dolls which the child is not allowed to touch – perhaps it is made from wood or glass or it is placed in a particular box or something like that, then this is something that is prohibited. This is what is prohibited.

    As for the baby doll that is in the form of a girl or a boy or like this, and it is something that the child plays with and which the child throws around; something that you may find lying on the ground and the child picks it up and plays with it; then there is nothing wrong with this. `A’ishah رضي الله عنها had a toy horse with two wings which she used to play with; the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم acknowledged this and he never stopped her from playing with it. This is not the type of image/form which is prohibited in Islaam. The image/form that is prohibited is the one that is magnified or glorified and the one that no one should touch or play with. It may be in the form of a man or woman or like this. As for the toy that the child plays with, there is nothing wrong with it; it is not haraam because it is for children.

    The Shaykh حفظه الله added to this, that the legislation of Islaam has prohibited taking dogs as pets and has prohibited pigs from being eaten or taken as pets as it is itself something that is najis (impure). Due to this, it is not permissible to play with toys in the image/form of a pig, a dog or anything that the legislation of Islaam has prohibited. This is not appropriate. However, if it is in the form of a lion, a camel or any animal which Islaam has not prohibited then this is okay.

Source:Taken From the transcribed lecture:
As-Seerah an-Nabawiyyah
by Shaykh Wasiullaah 'Abbaas حفظه الله
Delivered on January 30th, 2007
[http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3126]