Source: Excerpt from "Aḥkām wa Masā'il: Kitāb o Sunnat kī Roshni Main" by Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbānī
Nowadays, people often celebrate ʿAqīqah with customs like mehndi (henna ceremonies), music, and other festivities. What is the Sharʿī ruling on these practices?
Allah ﷻ has obligated us to adhere strictly to the example (Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in all aspects of worship and dealings.
The Prophet ﷺ performed the ʿAqīqah of Ḥasan and Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما, yet there is no report whatsoever that on such occasions the Prophet’s wives or female companions indulged in applying mehndi, singing, playing musical instruments like tabla or sarangi, or any other acts of disobedience or frivolity.
From the question itself, it is evident that these are customary rituals, not acts of worship. Such rituals have no connection with Islam and are influenced by the customs of non-Muslim cultures.
To attain the true reward of ʿAqīqah, it must be performed in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
"Whoever does an act which is not in accordance with our command, it is rejected."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb Naqḍ al-Aḥkām al-Bāṭilah wa Radd al-Muḥdathāt: 1718]
Any act performed during ʿAqīqah that is not sanctioned by the Sharīʿah—such as mehndi ceremonies, musical gatherings, and cultural displays—is unacceptable in the sight of Allah ﷻ. Such practices are bidʿah (innovations) and divert from the pure Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Only that ʿAqīqah will be accepted and rewarded which aligns with the authentic prophetic method—free from all innovations and culturally imported rituals.
❖ Question:
Nowadays, people often celebrate ʿAqīqah with customs like mehndi (henna ceremonies), music, and other festivities. What is the Sharʿī ruling on these practices?
❖ Answer:
Allah ﷻ has obligated us to adhere strictly to the example (Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in all aspects of worship and dealings.
The Prophet ﷺ performed the ʿAqīqah of Ḥasan and Ḥusayn رضي الله عنهما, yet there is no report whatsoever that on such occasions the Prophet’s wives or female companions indulged in applying mehndi, singing, playing musical instruments like tabla or sarangi, or any other acts of disobedience or frivolity.
From the question itself, it is evident that these are customary rituals, not acts of worship. Such rituals have no connection with Islam and are influenced by the customs of non-Muslim cultures.
To attain the true reward of ʿAqīqah, it must be performed in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
"Whoever does an act which is not in accordance with our command, it is rejected."
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb Naqḍ al-Aḥkām al-Bāṭilah wa Radd al-Muḥdathāt: 1718]❖ Conclusion:
Any act performed during ʿAqīqah that is not sanctioned by the Sharīʿah—such as mehndi ceremonies, musical gatherings, and cultural displays—is unacceptable in the sight of Allah ﷻ. Such practices are bidʿah (innovations) and divert from the pure Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Only that ʿAqīqah will be accepted and rewarded which aligns with the authentic prophetic method—free from all innovations and culturally imported rituals.
