I would like to know if it is permissible for a girl like me at the age of 14 to play with her little sister with dolls, but praying when athan is called and after she has done all her islamic duties. and please also tell me if it is permissible to play with dolls such as barbie or any other, and what was the age of Aisha (ra) when she played with dolls?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The majority of the scholars exempted from the prohibition of pictures, portraits and statutes, the dolls in the shape of a human being or animal which the girls play with as a way of training to cultivate children and organize the house. The evidence for this is that 'Aa'ishah said: "I used to play with dolls and I had some female friends who used to play with me, so, when the Prophet would enter in the house they would restrain from playing and hide. The Prophet would bring them to me and then we would play together." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This is about young girls. Ibn Habbaan when interpreting the above narration said: 'In the narration there is evidence that it is permissible for young girls to play with dolls and toys.'

As regards the age of 'Aa'ishah at that time when she used to play with dolls, we have not come across any statement of the scholars who mentioned how old she was.

For more details, please refer to Fataawa 83314, 84156 and 84972.

Allaah Knows best.