KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim women with an affinity for having henna applied to their hands and feet must be careful in choosing henna designs because some, like the popular “dreamcatcher”, symbolise other religious beliefs.
Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad, who announced a ban on the design, said any henna motif which has a similarity to symbols of other religious beliefs should be avoided.
"Muslims must not resemble people of other religions. For example, wearing a cross-shaped pendant," he said.
Mohamad Shukri said Muslims must abide by the guidelines on the usage of henna, which should be water absorbent, would not invalidate ablution, and is not sourced from unclean material.
In some Native American cultures, the dreamcatcher, a small hoop decorated with feathers and beads, is believed to give its owner good dreams.
At several locations in the federal capital, Bernama observed that many henna tattoo artists offer dreamcatcher designs to their customers.
One henna tattoo fan who wanted to be known only as Mira, 24, said she was surprised when a henna artist at a night market in Shah Alam, Selangor, told her that her stall was visited by officers from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, who informed her that dreamcatcher designs are not allowed. -- BERNAMA