Ruling on buying and keeping stuffed animals

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade wasting money. Al-Bukhaari (5975) and Muslim (593) narrated from al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘Allaah has forbidden three things: gossip, asking too many questions, and wasting money.’” 

Each person will be asked, on the Day of Resurrection, about his wealth: where he acquired it from and on what he spent it. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2417; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

Secondly: 

The Muslim whom Allaah has blessed with surplus wealth should thank his Lord for this wealth, and send it forth for his Hereafter by spending it on charitable purposes. 

One of the greatest means of doing so is by helping his Muslim brothers and meeting their needs. This is what is required by the brotherhood of faith. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion)”

[al-Hujuraat 49:10]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim. 

It is no secret that many Muslims are suffering from hunger and sickness in many parts of the world. 

Thirdly: 

Shaykh Ibn Baaz was asked about the ruling on keeping stuffed birds and animals, and what is the ruling on selling them? Is there any difference between animals which it is haraam to keep when alive and animals which it is permitted to keep when alive, if they are stuffed? 

He replied: 

Keeping stuffed birds and animals, regardless of whether it is haraam or permissible to keep them when alive, is a waste of money and a kind of extravagance, because these things cost money. Allaah has forbidden extravagance and wastefulness, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade wasting money. This is also a means of making images of birds etc that have souls, and displaying them in houses, offices, etc, which is haraam. So it is not permissible to sell them or keep them. 

Majmoo’ah Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 5/377.