Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta responded to questions regarding the permissibility of displaying statues and artifacts in museums, confirming that such practices are allowed in Islam as long as they are not intended for worship or imitation of divine creation.
Former Grand Mufti Dr. Shawki Allam explained that statues in modern times are used for education, art, and historical preservation, not for idolatry, and therefore there is no prohibition against creating or displaying them. Destroying them, he stressed, is an act of ignorance and a crime against human heritage.
He cited the Quranic verse about Prophet Solomon:
"They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, statues, basins like reservoirs, and stationary cauldrons." [Saba: 13],
noting that God did not condemn these actions but instead mentioned them among His blessings, proving their permissibility when used for legitimate purposes.
Dar Al-Ifta emphasized that archaeology plays a vital role in understanding past civilizations and learning lessons from history, in line with the Quranic command to “travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before you” [Al-Rum: 9].
The statement concluded by affirming that preserving monuments and cultural heritage is both a religious and national duty, as these relics reflect the identity and civilization of the nation. Islam, they said, encourages knowledge, learning, and the safeguarding of historical treasures for future generations.
