Difference of opinion regarding making a model of the Ka‘bah in order to teach children about the rituals
Question

                The school that my children attend is going to have a party to celebrate the occasion of Hajj on Friday. The school has asked me to dress my children in white garments, so that they can teach them how to perform the rituals of Hajj and tawaaf (circumambulation) of the Ka‘bah. But there will be a “ka‘bah” for teaching purposes only; is that permissible? Should I send my children to school on that day?
Praise be to Allah.
    Making a model of the Holy Ka‘bah, whether it is for the 
    purpose of teaching or adornment and so on, and whether one actually walks 
    around it in the manner of tawaaf in order to teach children and endear the 
    rituals of Hajj to them, or to educate adults too – all of these are matters 
    concerning which there has been a great deal of debate in recent years, 
    because it has become widespread in some Muslim countries, especially in 
    Islamic schools and some ministries of awqaaf (Islamic endowments) and Hajj. 
    Some researchers and supervisors of those departments have their own 
    opinions on this matter, on the basis of which they regard these practices 
    as permissible, and many researchers have agreed with them. 

    But what has been stated clearly by more than one of our 
    contemporary scholars, and has been mentioned in fatwas of Fiqh Councils and 
    institutions for issuing fatwas, is that this should not be allowed and a 
    stop should be put to it; it should not be done by children or adults, for 
    two important reasons: 

    ~1~

    The principle of barring the means that may lead to 
    reprehensible outcomes, which is based on a great deal of evidence from the 
    texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The means here is “making the model and 
    walking around it”, for fear lest people attribute to this action some kind 
    of sanctity or veneration, thus leading to worship being mixed with 
    teaching, and to the common folk thinking that there is some connection 
    between the real rituals of Hajj and the sanctity of the sacred House of 
    Allah, and these models that are sometimes built in the actual size of the 
    real Ka‘bah, surrounded by imitations of other features of the Sacred 
    Mosque. 

    ~2~

    Another issue is that to which many of these models may lead, 
    which is a decrease in veneration of the holy Ka‘bah in people’s hearts. 
    That is because these models have become commonplace, and are made in the 
    form of pendants and medallions, and key chains, and are hung up in cars, or 
    are played with by small children. What we should do is always strive to 
    increase the veneration and respect for the holy places in people’s hearts. 
    Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “Then let them 
    complete the prescribed duties (Manasik of Hajj) for them, and perform their 
    vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House (the Kabah at Makkah).

    That (Manasik prescribed duties of Hajj 
    is the obligation that mankind owes to Allah), and whoever honours the 
    sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord”

    [al-Hajj 22:29-30]

    “Thus it is (what 
    has been mentioned in the above said Verses is an obligation that mankind 
    owes to Allah). And whosoever honours the Symbols of Allah, then it is truly 
    from the piety of the heart”

    [al-Hajj 22:32]. 

    We will quote here some fatwas and statements that have been 
    issued concerning this matter: 

    Statement no. 74 (3/13) regarding the manufacture and 
    marketing of models of the Holy Ka‘bah.
alone, and blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there 
    will be no prophet, our master and Prophet 
    Muhammad, and upon his 
    family and companions.
    
    To proceed: the session of the 
    Islamic Fiqh Council in the Muslim World League, in its thirteenth session, 
    held in Makkah al-Mukarramah, beginning on Saturday 5 Sha‘baan 1412 AH/8 
    February 1992 CE, examined the matter and determined:

    What should be done is to put a 
    stop to this and prevent it, because it leads to negative consequences and 
    things that are contrary to sharee‘ah.

    May Allah send blessings and peace 
    upon our master Muhammad, and upon his family and companions. Praise be to 
    Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

    Head of the Islamic 
    Fiqh Council: ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baaz  

    Deputy head: Dr. ‘Abdullah ‘Umar 
    Naseef

    Members: Muhammad ibn 
    Jubayr, Dr. Bakr ‘Abdullah Abu Zayd, ‘Abdullah al-‘Abd ar-Rahman al-Bassaam, 
    Saalih ibn Fawzaan ibn ‘Abdullah al-Fawzaan (abstained), Muhammad ibn 
    ‘Abdullah ibn as-Sabeel, Mustafa Ahmad az-Zarqa, Muhammad Rasheed Raaghib 
    Qabbaani, Abu Bakr Jawsi, ‘Abd ar-Rahman Hamzah al-Marzooqi, Dr. Ahmad Fahmi 
    Abu Sanah, Muhammad al-Habeeb ibn al-Khawjah (not signed), Dr. Yoosuf al-Qaradaawi, 
    Shaykh Muhammad ash-Shaadhili an-Nayfar, Shaykh Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali al-Hasani 
    an-Nadwi (not signed), Muhammad Mahmoud as-Sawwaaf (not signed)

    General Manager of 
    the Islamic Fiqh Council: Dr Talaal ‘Umar Baafakeeh  

    End quote from 
    Qaraaraat al-Majma‘ al-Fiqhi (p. 285) 

    In Fataawa al-Lajnah 
    ad-Daa’imah (11/14), vol. 2, there is a question as follows: 

    There is a man who 
    teaches the people the rituals of Hajj in a practical manner. He has made a 
    wooden structure for them and painted it black to resemble the Ka‘bah. He 
    also made models of Maqaam Ibraaheem, as-Safa and al-Marwah, Zamzam and the 
    Jamaraat, and other locations having to do with the rituals of Hajj. What 
    the training involves is that the people come, wearing their ihram, and they 
    do the rituals, starting with ‘umrah until the end of Hajj. They raise their 
    voices reciting the Talbiyah inside the mosque, in unison. This phenomenon 
    has started to spread in all regions of Morocco, to the point that if you 
    enter some of the mosques, you will find a wooden structure resembling the 
    Ka‘bah and everything connected to the rituals, throughout the year. 

    The Standing 
    Committee replied:

    Making models out of 
    wood or other materials for some of the Islamic rituals, such as the Ka‘bah, 
    Maqaam Ibraaheem, the Jamaraat and so on, for the purpose of using them to 
    teach people how to do the rituals of Hajj and ‘umrah in the manner 
    described, is not permissible. In fact it is a reprehensible innovation, 
    because of what it leads to of things that are contrary to Islamic 
    teachings, such as feeling an emotional attachment to these models, even if 
    that is after a while, and because they may be mishandled, and so on, when 
    there is no need for this method. Explaining and describing the rituals 
    verbally, and writing explanations  is sufficient to convey the meaning to 
    all people. It is narrated in a saheeh report that the Messenger of Allah 
    (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action 
    that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.” Narrated by 
    Muslim in his Saheeh. End quote. 

    President of the 
    committee ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baz; vice president ‘Abd al-‘Azeez 
    Aal ash-Shaykh; members at large ‘Abdullah ibn Ghadyaan, Saalih al-Fawzaan 
    and Bakr Abu Zayd. 

    It also says in vol. 
    2, answering a question about making medallions in the form of the Ka‘bah 
    and the green dome: 

    It is not permissible 
    to make models of the Holy Ka‘bah and the dome that is above the grave of 
    the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or to trade in such 
    items. That is because making them and trading in them and dealing in them 
    leads to things that are not permissible; we should warn against that and 
    block all doors that lead to it. End quote. 

    President of the 
    committee ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baz; vice president ‘Abd al-‘Azeez 
    Aal ash-Shaykh; members at large ‘Abdullah ibn Ghadyaan, Saalih al-Fawzaan 
    and Bakr Abu Zayd. 

    Please see also fatwa 
    no. 192265 

    What we think is that 
    teaching by explaining and using other methods and resources available via a 
    computer, or showing films that show the actual rituals, is sufficient and 
    there is no need for these methods that the scholars say are not allowed, 
    whether that is for teaching at home or in school. If you use the 
    alternative, permissible methods with your children, that is better. 

    And Allah knows best.