Salaam alaikum. What exactly is permissible in Islamic calligraphy? I would like to write Ayat al Kursi in the shape of Afghanistan. Is this disrespectful in any way? The shape of the country isn't an animate being or anything... Please clarify this. Jazakullakhairan

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Venerating the sacred symbols of Allaah and holding them in honor is a manifestation of Taqwa (fear of Allaah and piety). The Holy Quran is the worthiest of thing of receiving such veneration and honor. Writing the verses of the Quran in calligraphic shapes merely for the purpose of decoration violates its veneration. Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said, “Inscribing the verses of the Quran on the walls is a form of disrespect for the words of Allaah. Some (calligraphers) write the verses in a certain way to look like a palace, a minaret, a Masjid, or the like. There is no doubt that this is play with the Book of Allaah Almighty.”

Hence, you should refrain from writing Ayat al-Kursi in the shape of a map or any other shape. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 90068.

Apart from the Quran and what is sacred in religion, there is no apparent objection to writing anything in the shape of a map or any other shape.

Allaah Knows best.