Q: We hope that Your Eminence will give us a Fatwa regarding the legal ruling on owning embalmed animals and birds? What is the ruling on selling them? Is there a difference between what is lawful and what is unlawful to be possessed while it is alive if embalmed? What should a Muhtasib (i.e., a public official entrusted with keeping the order) do regarding this practice?
A: Possessing embalmed birds and animals, whether lawful or unlawful to own if alive, is a waste of money and a type of extravagance because of the cost of embalmment. Allah has utterly forbidden all forms of extravagance and squandering of wealth. Likewise, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade dissipating money. This also encourages making shapes of birds and other animate creatures and hanging in the home, office, etc, which is categorically prohibited in Islam. Therefore, it is not permissible to sell or own them. The Muhtasib should explain to people that it is prohibited to make or own such things, and he should take the necessary measures to ban dealing in them in the markets. Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) spread among the people of Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) because they set up statues for Wadd, Suwa', Yaghuth, Ya'uq, and Nasra (names of some idols) who were righteous men among Nuh's people. They died in close succession, so Satan made it fairseeming to erect idols in their names and hold them in their meeting places. Ever since, Shirk found its way among the people of Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him). This was reported by AlBukhari (may Allah be merciful to him) in his Sahih on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). This also was reported by other Mufassirs (exegetes of the Qur'an), Muhaddiths (Hadith scholars), and historians. Allah is the One sought for help! There is neither might nor power except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.