Are Fairytales Like the Tooth Fairy Haram to Believe In?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is it halal to teach children about fairytales, like the Tooth Fairy? Is it shirk?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, it is halal to teach children about matters like the Tooth Fairy. It is certainly not shirk. That entails ascribing divinity or one of its aspects to another. [Sanusi, al-Muqaddimat]

However, saying there is a Tooth Fairy who comes and takes teeth away and leaves some money under your pillow would be lying. Rather, you can say that traditionally in the West parents taught this idea to their child, and it was the parents who would leave the money.

This way they learn about the aspects of the culture they grow up in that children their age know, and they are not being lied to. You can leave the money under the pillow as a gift to them. That way they share in the fun aspect of it and they know the truth. “Indeed, the truth leads to many righteous deeds, and righteous deeds lead to Paradise.“ [Bukhari]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.