Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Ways to Deal with Cupid Motif Table Covers in Islam:
- Do not display them in a respectful setting.
- Use them on the floor or for cleaning purposes.
- Cut or disfigure the image before reuse.
- Avoid condoning shirk through decoration.
- Return the item if other options arenโt feasible.
In response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Understanding the Meaning of โCupidโ in Roman Mythology
Before furnishing you with the opinions of scholars regarding the issue, let us first shed some light on the meaning of the word โcupidโ. According to Microsoft Bookshelf dictionary (2000 Edition), โcupidโ means Roman Mythology: The god of love; the son of Venus.
Permissible Ways to Repurpose Cupid-Themed Covers
You are only allowed to use this table cover as a cloth for the floor where you may be stepping on it or using it to wipe dust or filth. To use it in any other dignified way would be condoning shirk (associating partners with Allah), which is the most heinous of all sins in Islam.
You may, however, cut or disfigure the pictures and then use it as a tablecloth. In this way, the shirk question does not arise.
When to Return the Cupid Table Cover to the Store
If any of these cannot be done, please return it to the store and try to get a refund or exchange.โ
The following fatwas provide additional clarity:
- Do Angels Enter a House with Picture?
- Can You Pray in a Room with Pictures or Statues?
- Is It Haram to Wear Shirts with Pictures?
- Is It Haram to Keep Wedding Pictures in Islam?
- Is Drawing Cartoons Haram in Islam?
Almighty Allah knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.