Is Taxidermy Permissble?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We apologize for our belated response. Nevertheless, we hope this may assist you in the future.

The practice mentioned in your query is called taxidermy. Taxidermy refers to the practice of preserving an animal's body by mounting or  by stuffing. Taxidermy does not fall under the ambit of taswir (picture-making). This is because taswir entails creating something with one’s hands that resembles the creation of Allah. However, in the practice of taxidermy, one is merely displaying that which Allah has created.[i]

Accordingly, it is permissible to create a wall mount of a Qurbani animal.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mirza-Zain Baig

Student - Darul Iftaa

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.