Saudi Arabia: Religious scholar issues fatwa banning snowmen

A religious scholar has reportedly issued a fatwa which bans the creation of snowmen or snow animals in Saudi Arabia as a rare snowstorm struck parts of the Middle East.

Mohammad Saleh Al Minjed issued the fatwa which stated that replicating humans or animals in snow form, even if for recreational purposes, was not acceptable in Islam.

The fatwa stated that, instead of humans or animals, only lifeless objects could be recreated, such as buildings or vehicles, according to Gulf News,

The undated fatwa was shared widely on social media and sparked a debate among Gulf nationals of what should and should not be allowed when having fun in the snow.

"It has no value in our traditions, and those who are fascinated by the West should emulate their inventions and sciences, not their culture," Al Marsad news quoted an anonymous blogger as saying.

However, other Gulf citizens said that because the snow is so rare there should be no problem with having some fun when it does arrive.

"We have snow for fleeting days, maybe even hours, and there is always someone who wants to rob us of the joy and the fun," he posted. "It seems that the only thing left for us is to sit down and drink coffee," said a blogger known only as Mishaal.

Snow fell in Saudi region of Tabuk, located approximately 1500km northwest of the capital, Riyadh.

The Gulf state is the second hottest country in the world, where average temperatures reach highs of 45 degrees Celsius.