Is the possession and use of artificial fishing lures, which are in the form of images, considered forbidden?
Artificial fish are divided into three categories:
1. If the image is complete in its features and intended for decoration, it is forbidden. It is not permissible to manufacture it, possess it, or sell it, because it falls under the prohibition of depicting living beings and the prohibition of selling idols.
2. If the artificial fish are used as bait for fishing and are not displayed for decoration, they are not forbidden because they are considered desacralized (muhamtanah). There is no harm in possessing desacralized images.
3. If the artificial fish is incomplete in its creation, such that something essential for life has been removed (like the head or half the body), or its features are unclear (like the eyes and mouth), or it is very small such that its features are not discernible from a distance, then it does not fall under the prohibited images. It is permissible to manufacture, sell, and possess it, because it does not imitate Allah's creation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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