Difference of opinion regarding making a model of the Ka‘bah in order to teach children about the rituals

Making a model of the Holy Ka‘bah, whether it is for the
purpose of teaching or adornment and so on, and whether one actually walks
around it in the manner of tawaaf in order to teach children and endear the
rituals of Hajj to them, or to educate adults too – all of these are matters
concerning which there has been a great deal of debate in recent years,
because it has become widespread in some Muslim countries, especially in
Islamic schools and some ministries of awqaaf (Islamic endowments) and Hajj.
Some researchers and supervisors of those departments have their own
opinions on this matter, on the basis of which they regard these practices
as permissible, and many researchers have agreed with them. 

But what has been stated clearly by more than one of our
contemporary scholars, and has been mentioned in fatwas of Fiqh Councils and
institutions for issuing fatwas, is that this should not be allowed and a
stop should be put to it; it should not be done by children or adults, for
two important reasons: 

~1~

The principle of barring the means that may lead to
reprehensible outcomes, which is based on a great deal of evidence from the
texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The means here is “making the model and
walking around it”, for fear lest people attribute to this action some kind
of sanctity or veneration, thus leading to worship being mixed with
teaching, and to the common folk thinking that there is some connection
between the real rituals of Hajj and the sanctity of the sacred House of
Allah, and these models that are sometimes built in the actual size of the
real Ka‘bah, surrounded by imitations of other features of the Sacred
Mosque. 

~2~

Another issue is that to which many of these models may lead,
which is a decrease in veneration of the holy Ka‘bah in people’s hearts.
That is because these models have become commonplace, and are made in the
form of pendants and medallions, and key chains, and are hung up in cars, or
are played with by small children. What we should do is always strive to
increase the veneration and respect for the holy places in people’s hearts.
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then let them
complete the prescribed duties (Manasik of Hajj) for them, and perform their
vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House (the Kabah at Makkah).

That (Manasik prescribed duties of Hajj
is the obligation that mankind owes to Allah), and whoever honours the
sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord”

[al-Hajj 22:29-30]

“Thus it is (what
has been mentioned in the above said Verses is an obligation that mankind
owes to Allah). And whosoever honours the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly
from the piety of the heart”

[al-Hajj 22:32]. 

We will quote here some fatwas and statements that have been
issued concerning this matter: 

Statement no. 74 (3/13) regarding the manufacture and
marketing of models of the Holy Ka‘bah.

alone, and blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there
will be no prophet, our master and Prophet
Muhammad, and upon his
family and companions.

To proceed: the session of the
Islamic Fiqh Council in the Muslim World League, in its thirteenth session,
held in Makkah al-Mukarramah, beginning on Saturday 5 Sha‘baan 1412 AH/8
February 1992 CE, examined the matter and determined:

What should be done is to put a
stop to this and prevent it, because it leads to negative consequences and
things that are contrary to sharee‘ah.

May Allah send blessings and peace
upon our master Muhammad, and upon his family and companions. Praise be to
Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

Head of the Islamic
Fiqh Council: ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baaz 

Deputy head: Dr. ‘Abdullah ‘Umar
Naseef

Members: Muhammad ibn
Jubayr, Dr. Bakr ‘Abdullah Abu Zayd, ‘Abdullah al-‘Abd ar-Rahman al-Bassaam,
Saalih ibn Fawzaan ibn ‘Abdullah al-Fawzaan (abstained), Muhammad ibn
‘Abdullah ibn as-Sabeel, Mustafa Ahmad az-Zarqa, Muhammad Rasheed Raaghib
Qabbaani, Abu Bakr Jawsi, ‘Abd ar-Rahman Hamzah al-Marzooqi, Dr. Ahmad Fahmi
Abu Sanah, Muhammad al-Habeeb ibn al-Khawjah (not signed), Dr. Yoosuf al-Qaradaawi,
Shaykh Muhammad ash-Shaadhili an-Nayfar, Shaykh Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali al-Hasani
an-Nadwi (not signed), Muhammad Mahmoud as-Sawwaaf (not signed)

General Manager of
the Islamic Fiqh Council: Dr Talaal ‘Umar Baafakeeh  

End quote from
Qaraaraat al-Majma‘ al-Fiqhi (p. 285) 

In Fataawa al-Lajnah
ad-Daa’imah (11/14), vol. 2, there is a question as follows: 

There is a man who
teaches the people the rituals of Hajj in a practical manner. He has made a
wooden structure for them and painted it black to resemble the Ka‘bah. He
also made models of Maqaam Ibraaheem, as-Safa and al-Marwah, Zamzam and the
Jamaraat, and other locations having to do with the rituals of Hajj. What
the training involves is that the people come, wearing their ihram, and they
do the rituals, starting with ‘umrah until the end of Hajj. They raise their
voices reciting the Talbiyah inside the mosque, in unison. This phenomenon
has started to spread in all regions of Morocco, to the point that if you
enter some of the mosques, you will find a wooden structure resembling the
Ka‘bah and everything connected to the rituals, throughout the year. 

The Standing
Committee replied:

Making models out of
wood or other materials for some of the Islamic rituals, such as the Ka‘bah,
Maqaam Ibraaheem, the Jamaraat and so on, for the purpose of using them to
teach people how to do the rituals of Hajj and ‘umrah in the manner
described, is not permissible. In fact it is a reprehensible innovation,
because of what it leads to of things that are contrary to Islamic
teachings, such as feeling an emotional attachment to these models, even if
that is after a while, and because they may be mishandled, and so on, when
there is no need for this method. Explaining and describing the rituals
verbally, and writing explanations  is sufficient to convey the meaning to
all people. It is narrated in a saheeh report that the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action
that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.” Narrated by
Muslim in his Saheeh. End quote. 

President of the
committee ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baz; vice president ‘Abd al-‘Azeez
Aal ash-Shaykh; members at large ‘Abdullah ibn Ghadyaan, Saalih al-Fawzaan
and Bakr Abu Zayd. 

It also says in vol.
2, answering a question about making medallions in the form of the Ka‘bah
and the green dome: 

It is not permissible
to make models of the Holy Ka‘bah and the dome that is above the grave of
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or to trade in such
items. That is because making them and trading in them and dealing in them
leads to things that are not permissible; we should warn against that and
block all doors that lead to it. End quote. 

President of the
committee ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baz; vice president ‘Abd al-‘Azeez
Aal ash-Shaykh; members at large ‘Abdullah ibn Ghadyaan, Saalih al-Fawzaan
and Bakr Abu Zayd. 

Please see also fatwa
no. 192265 

What we think is that
teaching by explaining and using other methods and resources available via a
computer, or showing films that show the actual rituals, is sufficient and
there is no need for these methods that the scholars say are not allowed,
whether that is for teaching at home or in school. If you use the
alternative, permissible methods with your children, that is better. 

And Allah knows best.