Applying saffron on the head of a newborn child

Q: What is the status of applying saffron on the head of a newborn child. Is it 1) Sunnah 2) Mustahab 3) Permissible 4) Impermissible?

A: We are unable to find any mention of this mas’alah in the hanafi kitabs, however since there is mention of this practice in the ahadith, it is permissible for one to do it. Apart from the hanafi mazhab, according to some ulama, this practice is mustahab.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

ثم قال الباجي فَيُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يُخَلَّقَ بِالْخَلُوقِ رَأْسُ الصَّبِيِّ بَدَلًا مِنْ الدَّمِ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَقَالَ الْقَاضِي أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ: لَا بَأْسَ بِالْخَلُوقِ بَدَلًا مِنْ الدَّمِ الَّذِي كَانَتْ تَفْعَلُهُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةُ وَذَلِكَ مُبَاحٌ وَاَللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ وَأَحْكَمُ.

و في شرح الإقناع وَيسن لطخ رَأسه بالزعفران والخلوق كَمَا صَححهُ فِي الْمَجْمُوع (أوجز المسالك ص202 ج10)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)