Can little girls have dolls?

Question

I was answering a question in another section completely unrelated to religion and I happen to come across a Muslim who made the claim quote
"No. My daughters won't be having baby dolls as one I can't stand them and two it's against my religion for humans to have inanimate objects that look like animals or humans."

But I know there is a hadeeth (the one about Aisha r.a. playing with a horse with wings) of our beloved prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) that is interpreted by many scholars as making it permissable for little girls to have dolls.

So what do the different schools of thought have to say on this?

Answer 1

As-salamu Alikum
The dolls in use nowadays were not familiar in the time of the worthy ancestors - Allah's Mercy be upon them. For that reason today's Islamic scholars have two opinions:
(A) Prohibition of these dolls because they look like the statues which are strictly forbidden by true Islamic legitimacy. Also, dolls today don't look like the dolls in the time of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) which were crafted in textile and cotton, whereas dolls today are finely crafted and even programmed with sound.
(B) Lawfulness of the doll, because its use comes within general texts of that which is legal. We find it is reported by Bukhari from Ayisha (Radiya Allahu Anha) that she said: "I was playing with the dolls (doll girls) at the home of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), and I had female friends playing with me. When the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) entered the house, they (girls) hid from him, so he sent them to play with me" .
We advise the questioner to have her children use other toys, like cars, trains, … instead of the toys that are imitations of living beings with a soul. This way we will avoid disagreements, and we think this opinion is predominant and safer.

Answer 2

They're assuming that all little girls are alike when they do that. I never played with dolls much and neither did my daughters. They got toys that better suited their interests. I make it a point to avoid giving other little girls dolls unless I actually know that they like them. Otherwise, they will get a more neutral toy such as a book, a board game or a crafts kit.

Answer 3

I saw on the Internet the other day, not from the US but from one of the Islamic countries a Muslim lady was producing the Barbie doll with hijab, and different Islamic dress for Muslim children. She felt that as the children were asking for these dolls - which were coming from the western countries and with western dress - that someone should provide the dolls with Islamic dress.
I'm not saying whether this is right or wrong - but if this is in an Islamic country would the authorities or people in higher state not say something. The features are the same as the western dolls.
I remember also being told that we should not play with dolls that have eyes, or do drawings with faces.
lol - your're right we are in touble with our avatars

Answer 4

I saw what you saw. I also know of that hadeeth. I don't know what the different schools say I do know however I have in the past seen sewn dolls for Muslim tots being sold online without facial features like the Amish sometimes do.

Answer 5

I can speak for Christians. We allow our children to have dolls because it is wonderful preparation for learning how to take care of a baby. I know that with my first daughter I allowed her to have dolls and she became a wonderful mother with 6 children. But, with my second daughter (9 years later) I decided to limit her dolls to being stuffed animals instead because they seemed to keep their good appearance longer (I didn't like how dolls tend to look bedraggled after a while). Well, when she had her first child she ended up having me do most of the baby work because she had no experience with a baby doll. So, it does tend to make one wonder.

Answer 6

I let my children 2 girls and a boy, paly with dolls, and stuffed animals for the levels of education that they are on. And to enhance their nurturing skills. ALL of them need to learn how to nurture at a young age and care for things that can be very fragile and so on. So, in regards to it being islamically correct. I have studied the for mentioned hadith about Aisha raa, playing with dolls in the prophets presents but I have not seen any hadith about the specific dolls having no faces at all. I would assume they did since if they didn't then why would the girls run and hide or why would it even be in question about the dolls if they were just inanimate objects.
But mind you if I did read a AUTHENTIC hadith that said that specifically then they would not be able to play with them for nurturing purposes. I see many islamic dolls with hijab, I can't remember what they are called though. Also I have books that have pictures of stories about salat and things of that nature.

If it is education I see nothing wrong with it if it reflects the for mentioned hadith. But if you know better of other hadith then please post them.

Thanks

Answer 7

They can play with dolls but make sure there isn't any Facial expression on it.. no eyes,no nose, no lips.. I mean the face should be plain.
Not for dolls only.. any sort of stuff toy, plastic toy any toy, it shouldn't have eyes etc. Even Hazrat Ayesha r.a. used to play with dolls but it had no face.and it was just made up of cotton,cloth.


EDIT: Avatars are just the animated rays. And these are no way forbidden. they do not exist, means we cannot touch them neither we are sketching them by our hands which is again forbidden. Why can't you muslims use little common sense too?

Answer 8

Salams
i do let my daughters play with dolls because they are only children, when they are older then maybe thats different but i dont think that their is any harm now.

Answer 9

My dad asked an Imaam and he said, for playing and learning purposes, children are allowed to have toys and books with eyes in them. However, it's better to avoid them.

Answer 10

i am not sure when i was little and went to my arabic/quran tutor i brought my doll and set it on the other table. when he saw it, he started saying something like astaghfirullah, and then i ask what was wrong, he said nothing so i kinda dropped the topic, but i dont know. i'll be checking back to see what answers you get.