Fatwa Banning Snowmen

[Sundae]

When I worked inthe baby section of a supermarket in Leicester, and later in a boutique style baby outlet, I would be very careful regarding suggesting gifts for Muslim couples. Even those in Western dress may have grandparents to whom depictions of living animals were haram (forbidden) and would be upset if a babygro had cute rabbits all over it.

It was simply being culturally aware.

William Morris used to get around the issue of using animals in his designs inspired by Muslim art by having a thin line somewhere on the animal, so it would not technically be a living creature, ie a small gap between head and body on a bird.

Michael Palin, in his original travel doc Around the World in 80 Days noted the interesting abstract art in Saudi Arabia - certainly in public places - as a direct result of the religious prohibition. It's no weirder than not being able to carry keys on Shabbat, shurely?