Is Taxidermy Permissble?

Question

Dear Mufti saab . Trust you are keeping well by the Fazl of ALLAH swt. I have a question posed to me that needs clarification. Is it permissable to make a shoulder mount of a Qurbani animal which includes the horns and head up to the shoulders as something to preserve for use as a wall mount.

Jazakallah khair

Mirza-Zain Baig · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We apologize for our belated response. Nevertheless, we hope this may assist you in the future.

The practice mentioned in your query is called taxidermy. Taxidermy refers to the practice of preserving an animal's body by mounting or by stuffing. Taxidermy does not fall under the ambit of taswir (picture-making). This is because taswir entails creating something with one’s hands that resembles the creation of Allah. However, in the practice of taxidermy, one is merely displaying that which Allah has created.[i]

Accordingly, it is permissible to create a wall mount of a Qurbani animal.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mirza-Zain Baig

Student - Darul Iftaa

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

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