Are sculptures Haram? If they are can you please tell me why?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Sculpture as an art of making figures or designs of living beings by carving wood, moulding plaster, etc., is forbidden. So, it is forbidden to learn it or perform it. The said: “Among the people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.”

The wisdom behind its prohibition is its attempt to create something similar to the Creation of Allah. It is reported in a Qudsi Hadeeth that Allah Said: “And who is more unjust than the one who creates like My Creation. Let them create an atom, or create a grain, or create a small hair.”

Al-Bukhaari also reported that a man came to Ibn ‘Abbaas and said: “I am but a person who lives from my manual work, and I make these images.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “I would not tell you except what I heard the Prophet saying; he said: “Whoever makes any figure, Allah will keep on punishing him until he insufflates soul in it (that figure), and he will never be able to insufflate it. Thereupon his face became pale and said: 'Oh! And if I refuse.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “If you have to do this, then make figures of trees and anything that does not have a soul.” It is also reported in a sound Hadeeth that the Prophet said: “Those who make these figures will be punished on the Day of Judgment because of them. They will be told to put life in them (these pictures).”

Therefore, if what is being sculpted is not a living being, then it is lawful otherwise it is not.

For more benefit on making images, please refer to Fatwa 88456, 4549, 63235, 89555 and 88306.

Allah knows best.