Does the ruling on selling statues differ if their purpose is different from the days of Jahiliyyah, such that they are not worshipped, nor sold to those who worship them, nor held with any veneration in the heart, and their sale would financially benefit Muslims, from the ruling commanded by the Prophet (peace be upon him) against selling them?

The sale of statues is absolutely forbidden, whether they are for worship or not, and whether the buyer venerates them or not. The prohibition of their sale and manufacture has numerous harms. Ibn ‘Uthaymeen explicitly stated that selling and buying statues is forbidden based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: “Indeed, when Allah forbids something, He forbids its price.” Therefore, it is not permissible to import them, supply them, sell them, or buy them, nor to rent shops for this purpose, because this falls under the category of cooperating in sin and aggression. The fact that the price of the statue will be spent on something beneficial for the Ummah is not a justification for committing this great sin.