As salaam alaikum. Is it halal to make cookies in the shape of a human hand for decoration, or is this considered to be making a haraam image? Thank you.

All praise be to Allah, and may His blessings and peace be on His last messenger, Muhammad,

Pictures, or even statues, that are incomplete, and particularly those that don’t have a head are exempt from the prohibition of imagery. This is because of a report in at-Tirmidhi from Abi Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

“أتاني جبريل فقال: … فَمُرْ برأس التمثال الذي في البيت فليقطع فيصير كهيئة الشجرة ومُرْ بالستر فيقطع فيجعل وسادتين منبوذتين توطئان…”

“Jibreel came to me and said: … Order the head of the statue at the door cut off, so it becomes like a tree, and the curtain to be torn apart into two pillows that will be laid on the floor and stepped over…”

Also, if this had a head and was intended for children, it would still be fine. It was narrated that ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

” كنت ألعب بالبنات عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم …”

“I used to play with dolls in the company of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) …” [Agreed upon]

Allah knows best.