An influential Saudi Arabian cleric has come under criticism for issuing a religious edict or “fatwa” that bans Muslims from buildings snowmen.
After a snowstorm hit Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Mohammed Saleh al-Munajjid was asked by a religious website whether fathers should build snowmen for their children.
The cleric said that building snowmen was “not permitted…even by way of plan and fun” as snowmen are generally statues of human beings, and such depictions are banned under the gulf state’s strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.
Snow sculptures of animals are also haram according to the cleric, but he did say that making snow sculptures of objects “without souls” such as trees, ships, and fruit were permitted.
The fatwa caused much discussion across social media, with some agreeing with the edict and describing the construction of snowmen as a “crude imitation of the West” that has no place in Saudi traditions. However, many also variously described the cleric as a killjoy that wants to rob the Saudi people of one of their rare chances to play in the snow.