Are traditional rituals at an Aqiqa allowed?

No. Rituals such as a bowl of water, salt, rice and nuts are not part of Islam. The standard is the way of life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), and such rites did not exist in his time.

The Aqiqa is a beautiful practice from the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). After the birth of a child, the family thanks God with a sacrifice, as the first hadith above shows. In some countries, however, many additions have grown up around it, such as a bowl of water, salt, rice and nuts prepared according to fixed rules.

Such rites usually appear when faith grows weak. Prayer, fasting and an honest, good life take effort. A ritual, by contrast, is easy. You set out a bowl, say a few words and feel that you have done your duty. In this way the easy thing takes the place of the essential one, and the rite is performed without meaning.

One could examine every single custom at length. But there is one answer that settles all questions of this kind at once. A Muslim wants to live as the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) lived. The first verse above calls him an excellent model. If you ask of a custom whether it existed in his time and the answer is no, the matter is clear. The second hadith above says plainly that innovations in religion are rejected.

Returning to this model is not a restriction but a release. You no longer have to anxiously get right everything that grandparents and neighbours expect. You simply celebrate the birth of a child as the Holy Prophet (saw) taught, with gratitude and with joy.