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Is Mandala Art Haram?

25 November, 2023
Q Can I draw animal mandalas and hang them in my room? Besides, can I keep shadowed animal shapes in my room (they are just very black with just shape, no eyes or face are conspicuous)?

Answer

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

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

As a Muslim, you should avoid using mandalas or placing them in your home or car. You should replace them with genuine Islamic symbols.


In responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

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The mandalas are used as aids for meditation in Buddhism and Hinduism. They believe them as props for developing mindfulness and help meditation. 

As a Muslim, however, you should avoid using mandalas or placing them in your home or car. By doing so, you are imitating them.

Instead, you should replace them with genuine Islamic symbols. Islamic calligraphy involving verses of the Quran and forms of dhikr and duaa, including the beautiful names of Allah, should be our preferred choices.

So, I would advise you against such mandalas and replace them with the Islamic alternatives.

Almighty Allah knows best.