Selling three-dimensional images on which clothes are displayed

Firstly: making statues is not permissible; rather images and statues of animate beings must be erased.

It was narrated that Abu’l-Hayyaj al-Asadi said: `Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah have mercy on him) said to me: Shall I not send you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sent me? Do not leave any image without erasing it or any high grave without levelling it. Narrated by Muslim, 969.

Whatever it is prohibited to make, it is prohibited to sell or buy it, because when Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted prohibits a thing, He also prohibits its price.

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, prohibits eating a thing, He also prohibits its price.” Narrated by Ahmad (26773), Abu Dawud (3488); classed as authentic by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami` (5107).

Therefore it is not permissible to sell these three-dimensional images on which clothes are displayed (mannequins), because they come under the heading of images and statues of animate beings which must be erased, and it is prohibited to make them, sell them and buy them.

Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it permissible for a Muslim to sell statues and make them a commodity that he trades in, and to live off that?

He replied: It is not permissible for a Muslim to sell or trade in them, because of what is proven in the authentic hadiths that it is prohibited to make images of animate beings, and to set up statues under any circumstances whatsoever, and to keep them. Undoubtedly trading in them is promoting them, and helping in the making of them and setting them up in houses and gathering places and so on.

As that is prohibited, the money earned from making them and selling them is unlawful. It is not permissible for the Muslim to make a living from that to buy food and clothing and the like. Therefore, if he has done that, he must get rid of them and repent to Allah, may He be Exalted, in the hope that Allah will turn in mercy to him. Allah, may He be Exalted says (interpretation of the meaning): {Verily, I am Oft-Forgiving to those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds, then remain steadfast } [Ta-Ha 20:82].

We have issued a fatwa regarding the prohibition on making images of animate beings at all, whether three-dimensional or two-dimensional, whether they are produced through engraving, photocopying, drawing  or with modern cameras.

(End quote from al-Jawab al-Mufid fi Hukm at-Taswir, p. 49-50)

Secondly: a headless statue is not regarded as a prohibited image, and there is nothing wrong with keeping it and selling it, if it is something that is useful, on condition that it is not used to help in doing anything that is prohibited, such as promoting indecent clothing, wanton display or imitation of the disbelievers, and on condition that it does not show the shape of the private parts in a way that could provoke desire and spread immorality.

Allah, may He be Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty} [al-Ma’idah 5:2].

For more details, please see the answer to question no. 98632.

And Allah knows best.