Children And Toys

When a child wants a toy which is an animate object or a musical instrument, gently explain to the child that Allah Ta’ala is displeased with such a toy, and that the presence of such toys in our homes, deprives us of the presence of the Malaa`ikah (angels) of Rahmah (Mercy).

After having explained this, buy something better, if it is within one’s means, of the ‘mubaah’ (permissible) category – without being extravagant and wasteful.

Considering the fact that most children have all kinds of animate, musical and Haraam (forbidden) toys, do not let the child feel as if he or she is being deprived of play.… My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) has explained that we should make our children happy with Halaal so that they grow up loving the beautiful Deen (religion) of Islam.

The same applies to children’s clothing and accessories to be found on the market; much of which has cartoon characters, fictional characters, etc. which would captivate and charm little children; but which the Shariah does not permit.

Muslims today consider these restrictions as trivial and irrelevant, whereas there is great wisdom in all the ‘Muharramaat’ (prohibitions) of Islam.

One of the reasons why children have nightmares is due to the photographs that we bring into our homes, the cartoons and other programmes we allow and encourage them to view, or clothing and toys which are impermissible… Sometimes the room walls are plastered with cartoon characters. Huge teddy bears, dolls and stuffed animals are found all around the room, which result in frightful dreams.

There are angels who are deputed to look after our children, but these angels do not enter that home where there are pictures of animate objects. This deprives our children of the presence and protection of the angels, who also play with babies.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said : “Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.” – Sahih Muslim

We claim that we are Believers in Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. If the claim is true and sincere, then it is not acceptable that as Believers in Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, we debate, argue or reject what are clear injunctions of Shariah. The person who does so, has clearly strayed from the right path…

Allah Ta’aala says:

“IT IS NOT FITTING FOR A BELIEVER, MAN OR WOMAN, WHEN A MATTER HAS BEEN DECIDED BY ALLAH AND HIS APOSTLE, TO HAVE ANY OPTION ABOUT THEIR DECISION. IF ANYONE DISOBEYS ALLAH AND HIS APOSTLE, HE IS INDEED ON A CLEARLY WRONG PATH.”

[SURAH AHZAB 33 : 36]

Allah Ta’ala mentions the response of His sincere servants:

“THE ANSWER OF THE BELIEVERS, WHEN SUMMONED TO ALLAH AND HIS RASUL, IN ORDER THAT HE MAY JUDGE BETWEEN THEM IS NOT OTHER THAN THIS, THEY SAY, ‘WE HEAR AND WE OBEY.’ IT IS SUCH AS THESE WHO WILL ATTAIN FELICITY. IT IS SUCH WHO OBEY ALLAH AND HIS RASUL, AND FEAR ALLAH AND DO RIGHT, THAT WILL WIN (IN THE END).”

[SURAH NOOR 24 : 51 / 52]

Source: Towards reformation of the heart, by Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb Rahmatullahi Alaih