Apply Fragrance, Not Blood, After Baby’s Hair Shaving

Excerpt from the book “Wālidayn aur Aulād ke Ḥuqūq” by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī

❖ Topic:

Applying Fragrance on a Child’s Head After Shaving Hair

✿ Practice During Jāhiliyyah and Its Islamic Replacement:

◈ Ḥadīth 1 — From Abū Buraydah رضي الله عنه:

Translation:
Abū Buraydah رضي الله عنه said: In the days of ignorance (Jāhiliyyah), when a boy was born to one of us, he would slaughter a sheep and smear the child’s head with its blood. Then when Allah blessed us with Islam, we would slaughter a sheep, shave the child’s head, and apply saffron (fragrance) on it.
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd 2843; al-Sunan al-Kubrā 19288)

◈ Ḥadīth 2 — From ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:

Translation:
ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said: In Jāhiliyyah, when people performed ʿAqīqah for a child, they would soak cotton in the blood of the slaughtered animal and place it on the child’s shaved head. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Replace the blood with fragrance (ḥulūq).”
(Authenticated by Ibn al-Sakan; Ibn Ḥibbān 5284; al-Sunan al-Kubrā 19289)

❖ Summary & Ruling:

✔ In the pre-Islamic era, people used animal blood to anoint the newborn’s head after shaving.
✔ Islam abolished this ritual of blood and replaced it with a pure and clean practice — applying fragrance (like saffron).

✔ This symbolizes cleanliness, refinement, and removal of pagan customs with pure alternatives in line with the Prophetic Sunnah.

✅ Summary Points:

① After shaving the newborn’s head during ʿAqīqah, apply fragrance, not blood.
② The use of saffron or other pleasant scents is recommended.
③ Islam replaced the filthy customs of Jāhiliyyah with acts of purity and honor.
④ This ruling is based on authentic hadiths and reflects the mercy and refinement of the Sharīʿah.