Hello! I had a question about henna. I am Black, but I grew up in a Muslim community. I am no longer a Muslim, but from birth on up, in henna was a great part of my Muslim culture. All the women did it, it was just something Muslim women did when I grew up. In that sense, even though I am not a Muslim anymore, would it be appropriation to use henna despite it being a part of my past and a time my Muslim culture?

Hmm, well, are you from a part of Africa that uses henna? Lots of areas in North and East Africa use henna in their celebrations.

I would say that henna is more of a cultural than religious item/experience. It has to do with being a part of certain community. Many Muslims all over the world use henna because it’s used often in South Asian, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Again, it’s more of a cultural thing than a religious thing and was passed along through cultural exchange between Muslim communities and their surrounding geographies. I hope I’m making sense, the history of henna is complicated.

Do you consider yourself culturally Muslim? If you’re not a part of these communities that use henna (Muslim included), then I would say it’s appropriative to use it.

- Nadya