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Fatwa CenterPaisley, Alpana and Similar Decorative Patterns
Question
What's the ruling on wearing dresses with paisley or alpana designs? Paisley originated in ancient Persia and has links to Zoroastrian culture. Alpana originated in India and has a religious background, though specific Hindu ritual patterns are usually recognizable. Today, both are widely used as general decorative arts. In Bangladesh, Alpana is commonly used on clothes, blankets, floors, and walls during cultural celebrations, often in forms different from religious designs.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His Slave and Messenger.
The basic principle regarding things, including clothing and adornment, is permissibility, as Allah, The Exalted, says (what means): {Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good lawful things of provision?} [Quran 7: 32]
This basic principle is not abandoned except with clear and authentic Islamic evidence.
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade imitating non-Muslims in matters that are distinctive symbols of their religion or religious practices. He said: “Whoever imitates a people is from among them.” [Abu Dawood]
However, the scholars clarified that the prohibited imitation refers to matters that are specific religious symbols of other faiths, such as crosses, the distinct clothing of clergy, or clear pagan symbols.
As for common customs and matters that are widespread among people and are no longer distinctive symbols of a particular religion, these do not fall under the prohibited form of imitation. Rather, they fall under customary practices.
After examining the matter, it appears that paisley patterns, despite their historical roots connected to Zoroastrian culture, have completely lost their former religious significance in contemporary custom. Today, they are regarded merely as a universal decorative art style, and no religious or pagan meaning comes to mind when people see them. Therefore, there is no harm in wearing them, since they have become part of common worldly customs and are no longer distinctive symbols of any religion.
Likewise, Alpana-style patterns, if they consist of geometric designs, flowers, or abstract artistic decorations used for general adornment, are permissible because they fall under lawful beautification.
However, if such patterns contain specific religious symbols, such as depictions of deities or ritual Hindu symbols that are still used in worship today, then they must be avoided, because wearing symbols that are distinctive signs of another religion is prohibited in Islamic law.
It should also be noted that women are not permitted to go out wearing decorated and beautified clothing in a manner that attracts the attention of men. Rather, they are obligated to observe hijab and conceal their adornment when leaving their homes.
Allah Knows best.
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