Fatwa

Is it permissible to draw chinese-style spiral clouds (ابرِ چینی)?

Question

As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum,

I want to ask if it is permissible to draw the persianate miniature-style spiral clouds which, although originating from china, were also heavily used in many Muslim cultures and states such as the Ottoman Caliphate, Persia, the Mughal Empire, Central Asia, Syria, Mamluk Egypt, and even on Mosques and ceramics.

I recently learned that the original chinese drawings of such clouds had shirk-related connotations, such as being called “auspicious clouds,” being linked to drawings of false gods, and being used today for drawings of things like chinese new year celebrations. Would drawing them, in a Muslim context, be Halal since they do not have such connotations among Muslims and are not drawings of living beings, or would it be Haram (or even shirk) due to being inspired from chinese ones who have shirk connotations? Also, to clarify: I have waswas and ocd, so I do not know if I am overthinking this matter.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The default is that it is permissible to draw inanimate objects. As for the art design, given that every culture and religion, past and present, has always had their own designs and inspirations, it is not feasible to scrutinise every such link as that would most likely mean that most ‘art designs’ are impermissible.

However, in instances where certain objects or designs become such that they are a salient feature of another religion, then we will avoid it even though the core object being drawn is generic in nature.

The cloud design in question is not such.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com