Althouse: Snowmen deemed "anti-Islamic."

January 14, 2015

Snowmen deemed "anti-Islamic."

"Ces derniers jours, un joli manteau blanc recouvre le nord de l'Arabie saoudite. Mais que petits et grands ne se réjouissent pas trop vite. Car, à en croire Mohammad Saleh Al-Munadjid, un des cheikhs islamiques les plus influents du royaume, ceux qui seraient tentés de confectionner des bonshommes de neige feraient preuve d'un comportement 'anti-islamique.'"

33 comments:

Ann Althouse said...: Auto-translate:

"In recent days, a nice white blanket covers the northern Saudi Arabia. But what ages do not rejoice too soon. Because , according to Mohammad Saleh Al- Munadjid , one of the most influential Islamic sheikhs of the kingdom, those who might be tempted to make snowmen would display behavior ' anti-Islamic . ""; 1/14/15, 2:23 PM
Steve said...: Anti-Islamic?

Yes, it's fun.; 1/14/15, 2:32 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Let me fix that with a human touch:

"Lately, a pretty blanket of snow has covered northern Saudi Arabia. But little kids (and grownups!) better not get carried away, because if they build a snowman — according to Mohammad Saleh Al- Munadjidm, an influential Islamic sheikhs — they'll be engaging in anti-Islamic behavior."; 1/14/15, 2:33 PM
Anonymous said...: Images of humans are Haram; 1/14/15, 2:36 PM
Original Mike said...: Will they be shooting Frosty next?; 1/14/15, 2:38 PM
Anonymous said...: Je suis Frosty.; 1/14/15, 2:44 PM
n.n said...: I thought snowmen were deemed racist. And with the global warming effort to remove carbon from the atmosphere, the dearth of off-white snowmen is growing.; 1/14/15, 2:47 PM
Mark said...: Stay Frosty, folks.; 1/14/15, 2:51 PM
Michelle Dulak Thomson said...: Snowmen deemed racist? Obviously they're sexist. As well.

Drill SGT: I think that some parts of Islam insist that no animal form (not just humans, let alone just Mohammed) can be depicted.; 1/14/15, 2:57 PM
MayBee said...: Drill SGT: I think that some parts of Islam insist that no animal form (not just humans, let alone just Mohammed) can be depicted

Yes. It's why many Mosques and even many Persian Rugs (and rugs made in many Islamic areas) are decorated only with geometric designs. No flowers, fruits, animals, etc.; 1/14/15, 3:00 PM
Anonymous said...: I know

I was playing off Ann's 'human touch'; 1/14/15, 3:05 PM
traditionalguy said...: Saudis are in a succession debate as the Faisal in charge is dying and the successor Faisal is just as old. Ergo: the politics is hot and heavy for the successor clan group to show off that it is more Legalistic than others are.

The problem with legalistic systems is that the beating of suspected heretics for a show makes everyone unsafe as narrower and narrower human sctivities are allowed.

When you start keeping 10 general laws you have to add 30 more to enforce them, and 100 more to enforce those, and 1000 more to enforce an end to all possible life enjoyment; 1/14/15, 3:08 PM
Hagar said...: and why the "Walk" signs at traffic signals are headless.

it is the (Sunni) Islamic version of "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin"?; 1/14/15, 3:09 PM
Kyzer SoSay said...: Islam is a singularly ridiculous religion, in my opinion. Judaism and Christianity have their moments as well (as does Buddhisim and Zoroastrianism, I reckon), but Islam is truly for the birds. Maybe that explains it. The loonier the rules of a faith, the loonier the adherents become.; 1/14/15, 3:10 PM
traditionalguy said...: Remember, the only logic in a legalistic group is that meanness shows who is in charge.; 1/14/15, 3:10 PM
Elrond Hubbard said...: And don't even think of making a snowwoman.; 1/14/15, 3:13 PM
MadisonMan said...: Control Freaks.; 1/14/15, 3:27 PM
The Godfather said...: Is "anti-Islamic" what is meant, or "un-Islamic"? Obviously, both are bad, but if I were a Muslim (pause for a laugh), I'd think it would be worse to be anti- than to be merely un-. Of course, we had an UnAmerican Activities Committee, so I guess we thought un- was bad enough to investigate it.

I am an un-robot.; 1/14/15, 3:30 PM
Drago said...: I've been told by western leftists that we western, white, European, Christian males have much to learn from these other superior cultures.

I'm not yet convinced.

Because I'm privileged no doubt.; 1/14/15, 3:36 PM
Drago said...: Kyzernick: "Maybe that explains it. The loonier the rules of a faith, the loonier the adherents become."

Is it any surprise that this is the one religion that leftists feel compelled to defend robustly?; 1/14/15, 3:37 PM
Rumpletweezer said...: Double your unIslamic fun by making Snow Mohammeds.; 1/14/15, 3:42 PM
Michael K said...: "“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."

Winston Churchill.

Somebody last week made the insane suggestion that he considered converting.; 1/14/15, 3:43 PM
Seeing Red said...: Via Vodkapundit:

"A street magician in Syria beloved by children was beheaded by militants with the Islamic State group after his performances were deemed to be insulting to God, the Daily Mirror reported Wednesday.

The murder of the magician, who was known as “Sorcerer,” was called “barbarism and butchery” by a Syrian activist who knew him but fled to safety in nearby Turkey.

“The magician was a popular man who entertained people with little tricks on the street like making coins or [a] phone disappear,” the activist told the British tabloid. “He was just called Sorcerer by people and children loved him. He was doing nothing anti-Islamic but he paid for it with his life.”; 1/14/15, 3:49 PM
Seeing Red said...: So make snow angels.; 1/14/15, 3:51 PM
lemondog said...: Are photographs and film considered anti-Islamic?

These are image creating.

Apparently he has backed down a tad:

Seriously, a fatwa against snowmen? Saudis push back on Twitter.; 1/14/15, 3:59 PM
n.n said...: Semantically, snowmen are gender-biased, but practically, they are eunuchs, and therefore politically correct representatives of several dozen gender orientations.; 1/14/15, 4:13 PM
David said...: Come to think of it, snowmen are overwhelmingly white. And they are men. Check your privilege, snowmen.; 1/14/15, 4:44 PM
PB said...: Time to go out and roll a Snow Mohammed!; 1/14/15, 4:59 PM
JAORE said...: The children pretended that Frosty was "Parson Brown". Of course that is un-Muslim.; 1/14/15, 6:31 PM
William said...: I'm sure this story will turn out to be a hoax. It was probably planted by some Charlie writer who wanted to poke good natured fun at Islamic tenets. We'll all have a good laugh when the truth comes out.; 1/15/15, 12:24 AM
Rusty said...: Damn shape shifting Jews!; 1/15/15, 7:29 AM
Michael McNeil said...: Thus Sunni Islam. With regard to Shia Islam, on the other hand — e.g., according to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (“the 30th topmost intellectual person in the world on the list of Top 100 Public Intellectuals”) — the game of chess (and all other games where a bet might be made, whether it actually is or not being irrelevant) is haraam mutlaqan: “absolutely or under any circumstances” forbidden, whether it's played by ordinary pieces on a chessboard or via images on a computer screen.; 1/15/15, 8:02 AM
n.n said...: Rusty:

It's a newly discovered state of matter: JewFrosty. Little is known about JewFrosty, other than its occurrence is unpredictable. Some people surmise it is an effect of Global Warming or Climate Change, and it is the working hypothesis to explain why Arab oil producers are now observing JewFrosties.; 1/15/15, 12:04 PM