Is a teddy a problem - advice from Muslim mumsnetters please!

[Teddyhelp]

I ordered some flowers for a Muslim colleague who has just had a baby. I saw you could add a lovely stuffed bunny so I added that to the order. A bit later, I suddenly had a thought that this might not be okay so I googled it and it might not. I'm on hold trying to cancel the order but can anyone advise me if this will be completely unacceptable if the order gets delivered??? Causing any offence is the last thing I want to do. Thank you

I'm from a Muslim background, I've never actually met any who would have an issue with a teddy for a child, don't worry.

Thank you everyone for your advice. Hopefully I've removed the teddy but I feel happier that if it does get delivered, it won't cause offence. My colleague is absolutely delightful so fingers crossed it will be fine!

@Elopelo

Hi OP. I’m Muslim and I can tell you that the teddy will be fine and will be much appreciated by your colleague. I wish I had colleagues as nice as you!

For previous posters asking, majority of Muslims do not like to have pictures or images of animate beings in their homes etc, this is because of many prohibitions dealing with drawings or images of faces etc, it’s just something that traditionally Muslims don’t do/like. It all goes back to the idea of not knowing what God/angels/Prophets look like. It’s why traditional Islamic art is usually made up of calligraphy and geometric patterns.

However when it comes to kids toys etc there is no issue.

Do they not have family photos / photos of the kids growing up and so on?

If so, I find it somewhat surprising as plenty of Muslims I know have plastered photos of themselves all over social media!

Gosh, I never knew this! I knew it was a biblical interpretation amongst the Amish in North America, but had no idea Islam had a similar principle.

This is so interesing. I knew that images of people weren't allowed, but hadn't realised it was a general issue with depicting god's creation.

I now really, really need to know the status of unicorns in this....

@Elopelo

Hi OP. I’m Muslim and I can tell you that the teddy will be fine and will be much appreciated by your colleague. I wish I had colleagues as nice as you!

For previous posters asking, majority of Muslims do not like to have pictures or images of animate beings in their homes etc, this is because of many prohibitions dealing with drawings or images of faces etc, it’s just something that traditionally Muslims don’t do/like. It all goes back to the idea of not knowing what God/angels/Prophets look like. It’s why traditional Islamic art is usually made up of calligraphy and geometric patterns.

However when it comes to kids toys etc there is no issue.

Thankyou for explaining so well.

I would never have known this! But it seems pretty overwhelming feedback that a soft toy for a baby wouldn’t cause offence in a Muslim household.

Scirocco

My DW is from Iran and I have been there a few times. In most of the houses I visited there were Persian works of art which depicted people.

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/882059196/vintage-persian-enamel-on-glass-painting?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-art_and_collectibles-painting-combination&utm_custom1=k_EAIaIQobChMIvpaR197l8wIVC7h3Ch00agyGEAQYAiABEgKasvD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_12603389987_121134159258_508772766901_aud-371913912633:pla-354165517408_c__882059196engb_472333458&utm_custom2=12603389987&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvpaR197l8wIVC7h3Ch00agyGEAQYAiABEgKasvD_BwE

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1071374036/vintage-pair-of-framed-traditional?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-home_and_living-home_decor-other&utm_custom1=k_EAIaIQobChMIvpaR197l8wIVC7h3Ch00agyGEAQYBCABEgINoPD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_12576471769_121299161484_507650068711_aud-371913912633:pla-303663660129_c__1071374036engb_480720635&utm_custom2=12576471769&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvpaR197l8wIVC7h3Ch00agyGEAQYBCABEgINoPD_BwE

www.sothebys.com/en/articles/celebrating-nowruz-10-places-to-see-persian-art-around-the-world

This is so interesting, I never knew this!

@Elopelo are photographs of family & friends also not acceptable then?

I had no idea!

I knew about the flaw in carpet patterns but thought this might just be an urban myth.

I love Mumsnet!

Interesting!!

My ex partner is Muslim and his family got my children teddy’s and other toys. I didn’t even know about this till I read the thread. Is it a Sunni belief?

@andyoldlabour Yes, there are different schools of thought, different practices, different cultures, all of which contribute to making our faith diverse and rich in history. That's why I said a lot of Islamic art and not all.

The little muslim girls in the park have dolls just like my daughter´s. Their mums seem to be okay with it.

This is really interesting. But what about Persian rugs as a pp mentioned? We have one made in Pakistan and based on a 17th century Safavid design. It’s got hunting scenes all over it.

I didn't know this either

I didn't even know this was a thing. My neighbour who is a Muslim bought me a Teddy of a pig for my baby shower.

@user1471462428

My ex partner is Muslim and his family got my children teddy’s and other toys. I didn’t even know about this till I read the thread. Is it a Sunni belief?

Sunni is a pretty broad term for one of the main branches of Islam, but if it helps I'm a Sunni Muslim and I'm buying toys for my little one as we speak. It's not a mainstream view, and as Sunni Islam is one of the main branches of mainstream Islam , it's reasonable to consider that most Sunni Muslims aren't going to hold that view. In fact, I don't think any of my friends who are Sunni Muslims would have a problem with soft toys.

I do wish people would stop othering Muslims on here, and it is always Muslims.

"I'd like to buy my Muslim neighbour a gift but I don't want to cause offence".

"A Muslim lady is coming to my house with her DC on a playdate. Would she be offended if I baked her a cake?"

"I want to send Christmas cards to my neighbours and don't want to leave out the house across the road, but they're Muslim and I don't want to offend them".

Muslims are generally the same as the rest of the human race - not some sort of strange beings with two heads who take offence to everything.

A nice thought is exactly that and even if it doesn't suit their religion, it will generally be accepted in exactly the kind spirit in which it's given. Because just like people of all religions, they don't expect you to know everything about it.

Honestly, I live in an area that's highly populated by Muslims and this is the one issue that comes up time and again. The majority of Muslims I know are just fed up of people 'tiptoeing' around them, because even with the best of intentions, it is othering.

@WorraLiberty

I do wish people would stop othering Muslims on here, and it is always Muslims.

"I'd like to buy my Muslim neighbour a gift but I don't want to cause offence".

"A Muslim lady is coming to my house with her DC on a playdate. Would she be offended if I baked her a cake?"

"I want to send Christmas cards to my neighbours and don't want to leave out the house across the road, but they're Muslim and I don't want to offend them".

Muslims are generally the same as the rest of the human race - not some sort of strange beings with two heads who take offence to everything.

A nice thought is exactly that and even if it doesn't suit their religion, it will generally be accepted in exactly the kind spirit in which it's given. Because just like people of all religions, they don't expect you to know everything about it.

Honestly, I live in an area that's highly populated by Muslims and this is the one issue that comes up time and again. The majority of Muslims I know are just fed up of people 'tiptoeing' around them, because even with the best of intentions, it is othering.

Isn't it being considerate?

Absolutely fine. I am a Muslim and have relatives who are super strict, and they certainly like teddies! Nice of you to check though. Xx

This is so interesting, thanks. I too wonder about family photos?

Isn't it being considerate?

But this is the whole point.

Most of the Muslim parents at the school/neighbours in the street, don't want 'special consideration'. They just want to live like every other parent and be treated the same.

Especially when 9 times out of 10, being considerate normally ends in the person saying "Because I don't want to offend".

It makes my best friend want to bang her head off the wall, because she feels like it makes people think Muslims are so easily offended.

Yes it’s all a matter of interpretation, as with most things some Muslims take a more traditional and fixed stance and others will see themselves as being more flexible.

Photographs is another interesting area. Most Muslims (myself included) don’t have any problems with digital photos or photo albums etc but some of us wouldn’t feel comfortable having a life size family portrait in the living room for example. Another thing is when it comes to prayer there shouldn’t be any images of beings etc which is why I suppose some Muslim houses are free of these things as lots of prayers are performed at home.

Sorry OP, wasn't actually aiming my frustration at you

You've done a lovely thing and I'm sure the gift will be received with gratitude.