MANGNI, KHATNA AND AQIQAH – HAZRAT MOULANA MASEEHULLAH (رحمة الله)
MANGNI, KHATNA AND AQIQAH
It is not jaez to be proud or boastful of any excellence that one may possess.
That excellence is not self-generated: it is a gift from Allah Ta’ala. If such a gift can be snatched away without a person transgressing, what chances are there that that gift will remain if one deliberately does wrong? The fear of a decline in that excellence should be ever present.
Yet, what do we see happening? A person attains some wealth, and it goes to his head. The very next thing he does is squander it heedlessly. Soon it is all gone and he goes around borrowing from others. He has neither the capacity to be contented with very little (qana’at), nor is he capable of spending cautiously. He should have had some forethought. But, not The wedding has to be lavish, and so too the occasion of his son’s circumcision and aqiqah. So, now he has to go around borrowing.
Not only that, but nowadays even on the occasion of the betrothal (mangni), there is unnecessary spending. You find that both parties have already had a discussion and have agreed on the marriage. But that does not satisfy everybody, so fifty or a hundred people must be invited and fed and entertained
This happens. As I have said before, I do not mention incidents that have not actually taken place. These incidents are not imaginary. Just a few days ago a person came and related what I have just said. I questioned him: “When the girl’s side gave the answer, they had called a few people from the boy’s side? Obviously, Just one person will not go alone.”
He said, “Yes. Four to six people had gone to get the answer.” The answer was given and confirmed. Yet it was found necessary to gather fifty to a hundred people for meals to re-confirm the agreement.
Please do not take offence, but let me tell you something: The truth is that a Muslim has lost trust and confidence (i’tibar) in his fellow Muslim. Why do I say this? You can see for yourself that, even after the agreement is made, it is still necessary to hold a special function to re-confirm the agreement.
So, the betrothal (mangni), the wedding, the circumcision (khatna), and the aqiqah, have all become major functions. Yes, even the Circumcision and aqiqah have assumed the proportions of a wedding!
Aqiqah, done along Shari’ lines, is a simple procedure: The day the child is seven days old, the hair on the head has to be shaved, and silver has to be given to the poor as sadqa. The amount of silver will be equivalent to the weight of the hair shaved off. That is, if you have the means. Also, if you have the means, slaughter one goat if the infant is female, and two goats if the infant is male. Then, like the meat of qurbani, it is preferable to divide this meat into three portions: one portion to be kept for one’s own use, one to be distributed to the poor, and the third portion to be distributed to friends and family. Plain and simple.
But no! Fifty to a hundred people must be invited. So, besides the aqiqah animal, an additional cow, or two, have to be slaughtered as well, to feast friends and relatives!
What about the khatna (circumcision)? The Shariat does not stipulate a special function on this occasion. This simple rite does not satisfy everybody, so one finds the child being painted, and dolled up in new clothes. A special horse is hired, and the child is paraded around the neighbourhood on the horse. Thereafter the circumcision is performed, and everybody is then feasted. Is this not on the scale of a weddings Is this a union (wedding) they are celebrating? This is no union, but a separation – the separation of the foreskin How strange!
When all the money is finished, he goes around borrowing. Nowadays this borrowing is in the form of a loan from the bank, on interest. And when the creditors demand their money, the requests come, “Hadhratjee, please make dua for me. I am piled up in debt.” When I ask how did it happen, then all the details come out. That is how I come to know.
Now, the question is: Did Allah Ta’ala command him to get into this plight, or did he bring it on himself? Obviously, he brought it on himself. Allah Ta’ala tried to prevent his getting into trouble. Allah Ta’ala forbade him from wasting his wealth, and from taking loans on interest.
A Hadith shareef of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) states:
Very, Allah Ta’ala has disapproved three acts for you: to argue and debate, to squander your wealth,and to question too much.
These are important matters brought to your attention. It is very necessary that our brothers should know how to live with respect and honour, and how to save themselves from disgrace.
Source: For Friends
