Welcoming the Newborn

Invocations, Supplications, Rituals and Precautions at the Birth of a Child

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Recite the First Call to Prayer [adhn]
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in the right ear.
Recite the Second Call to Prayer [iqma]
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in the left ear.
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It is permissible to recite the Call-to-Prayer Supplication [du al-adhn]
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after both the Adhn and Iqma.
It is permissible for the one giving the Adhn to kiss ones thumbnails and rub gently the eyes of the
newborn at the mention of the Messenger of Allah [ashhadu anna Muammada r-Raslu Llh]
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.
Imam al-Arus has recommended that the dua in verse (3:36)
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be made in both ears.
He has also stated that if Sura al-Qadr
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is recited once in the ear of an infant, Allah will protect that child
from falling into the sin of adultery [zina] in his or her lifetime.
Perform tank
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feed the infant with extracts of dates or any sweet substance untouched by fire.
Recite the supplication [du]
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that the Prophet recited on Imams Al-asan and Al-usain.
Bury the placenta and umbilical cord with due care and respect as it is a part of the human body.
Name the child. It is the right of the child to be christened a good name. Choose wisely and have the
intention of the child being bestowed with the blessing [baraka] of that name.
Perform the sacrificial slaughter [aqqa]
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. It safeguards the child from sickness, evil effects and
calamities. When the child grows up, he or she will not be disobedient to parents.
Shave the infants head
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and give away in charity [adaqa] gold or silver equivalent to the weight of the
hair removed. If gold or silver is not available, then give corresponding value in cash.
Mothers milk is the best food for an infant and it is a childs right to be breastfed by the mother for 2
lunar years. (See: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=4769&CATE=95)
Circumcision of boys can be done as early as the seventh day after birth and as late as puberty, though
preferably done before the age of seven.
To pacify a continuously weeping infant, an amulet [tawz]
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can be placed under the head or pillow of
the child. In addition, recite Al-Fatiha on Mashhur Mawlana of Sri Lanka.
Imam al-Arus writes that it is stated in Qalid that whoever has his head shaved on forty Wednesdays will
grow up to be highly learned in Jurisprudence
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.
Shaikhuna Thaika Shuaib recommends reciting verse (4:9) 313 times, seeking Allahs safety, security and
protection for ones children
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.
Habib Abdullah b. Husain b. Tahir has composed a supplication for ones progeny which parents will do
well to read regularly. (See: http://www.scribd.com/doc/157934448/Bard-Al-Akbad-fi-Salah-Al-Awlad)
It is Sunna and from propriety to greet the parents
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of the newborn in the following manner:

braka Llhu laka fi l-mawhbi laka, wa shakarta l-whiba,

wa balagha ashuddahu, wa ruziqta birrahu.
May Allah bless you with His gift to you, may you (the new parent) give thanks (for this gift),
may the child reach the maturity of years, and may you be granted its righteousness.
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1
The Adhn:
Allhu Akbar, Allhu Akbar (2 x)
ashhadu an l ilha illa Llh (2 x)
ashhadu anna Muammadan Raslu Llh (2 x)
ayya ala -alh (2 x)
ayya ala l-fal (2 x)
Allhu Akbar, Allhu Akbar, l ilha illa Llh
Allah is greater, Allah is greater (2 x)
I testify that there is no god but Allah (2 x)
I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (2 x)
Come to prayer (2 x)
Come to success (2 x)
Allah is greater, Allah is greaterThere is no god but Allah

2
The Iqma:
Allhu Akbar, Allhu Akbar
ashhadu an l ilha illa Llh
ashhadu anna Muammadan Raslu Llh
ayya ala -alh, ayya ala l-fal
qad qma ti - alah
Allhu Akbar, Allhu Akbar, l ilha illa Llh
Allah is greater, Allah is greater
I testify that there is no god but Allah
I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
Come to prayer, Come to success
Stand for prayer, Stand for prayer
Allah is greater, Allah is greaterThere is no god but Allah

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Both the Adhn and Iqma can be given by the father, grandfather, other male relation, or a Muslim male.
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The traditional supplication after the call to prayer:
Allhumma alli wa sallim wa brik al sayyidin
Muammadin wa lihi wa sabihi adada m f ilmi Llh,
altan dimatan bi-dawmi mulki Llh. Allhumma rabba
hdhihi d-dawati t-tmmati wa -alti l-qima, ti
sayyidan Muammadani l-waslata wa l-falah, wa sh-
sharafa wa d-darajata r-rafata l-liyata sh-sharfah, wa
bathhu maqman mamdani lladhi wa adttah, wa rzuqn
shafatahu wa awridna awahu yawma l-qiymah, innaka
l tukhlifu l-md, (inna Llha wa malikatahu yusallna
ala n-nabiyyi, y ayyuha llathna man sall alaihi wa
sallim taslma) Allhumma alli wa sallim al sayyidin
Muammadin wa lihi wa sabihi ajman, wa l-amdu li
Llhi rabbi l-lamn.
O Allh, bestow benedictions, peace and blessings upon our liege-
lord Muhammad , his family and companions, in the number
that is in Your Knowledge, such that those benedictions may
continue forever eternal as Your Kingdom. O Allah, Lord of this
perfect call and everlasting prayer, grant our liege-lord
Muhammad the means, eminence, nobility, and the sublime,
ennobled and exalted rank, raise him to the honoured station You
have promised him, grant us his intercession, and let us drink
from his Fountain on the Day of Resurrection. Verily You do not
neglect promises. (Verily Allah and His angels whelm in blessings
the Prophet. O you who profess faith invoke blessings upon him
and give him greetings of Peace.) O Allah, bestow benedictions
and peace upon our liege-lord Muhammad , his family and
companions. And praise be to Allah, Lord of all domains.

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Ibn bidn, in his radd al-mutr 1: 397-8 (a.k.a. al-Hshiya or al-Shmi), states:
It is recommended to say, after hearing the first testification [in the adhan]: alla Llhu alaika y Rasla Llh
(May Allah bestow blessings on you, O Messenger of Allah), and after the second of them, qarrat ain bika y Rasla
Llh (May my eyes rejoice with you, O Messenger of Allah). Then one should say, Allhumma ttin bi s-sami wa l-baar
(O Allah, keep blessing me with hearing and sight), after placing the nails of both thumbs on ones eyes, for the
Messenger of Allah will be his guide into the Garden [if he does] as mentioned in kanzu l-ibd, via al-Quhustn
[in his jmi ar-rumz]. This has also been mentioned in al-fatw a-fiyya.
It has been reported in kitbu l-firdaws, Whoever kisses the nails of both thumbs upon hearing ashhadu anna
Muammda r-Rasla Llh, I shall be his guide and shall enter him in the ranks of Janna. The details are in the
awshi l-bar of al-Raml, from al-maqidu l-asana of al-Sakhw. Al-Jirh mentioned this, too, and gave a
lengthy exposition, then said, None of these narrations has been authentically established (lam yai) from the
Messenger of Allah .
( 1 : 783 - 798 )

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Al-Quran 3:36
wa inn udhuh bika
wa dhurriyyatah mina sh-shaitni r-rajm
And I seek refuge with You (Allah) for the infant
and for the infants offspring from Satan, the accursed.
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Sura al-Qadr:
bi-smi Llahi r-ramni r-ram,
inn anzalnhu f laylati l-qadr, wa m adrka m laylatu l-
qadr, laylatu l-qadri khairu m-min alfi shahr, tanazzalu l-
malikatu wa r-ru f-h bi-idhni rabbihim min kulli amr,
salmun hiya att malai l-fajr.
In the name of Allah, the universally merciful, the singularly
compassionate. We have indeed revealed this (Message)
in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee
what the night of power is? The Night of Power
is better than a thousand months. Therein
come down the angels and the Spirit
by Gods permission, on every
errand: Peace! ... This until
the rise of morn!
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Tank should ideally be performed by a pious Muslim male. It is also Sunna for a female to do it.
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Placing children under the protection of Allah (Bukhari 3371/Abu Dawud 4737/At-Tirmidhi 2060):
udhu ka/ki/kum/kum bi-kalimti Llhi t-tmmati min
kulli shaitnin wa hmmah, wa min kulli ainin lmmah
I commend you (boy)/(girl)/two/all to the protection of Allahs
perfect words from every devil, vermin, and every evil eye.

/ /

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Section on Aqqa:
Aqqa or the sacrificial offering on behalf of a child is a Sunna on the part of either the father or the mother. It
can be offered at any time between the birth of a child and his/her attaining puberty. The Sunna is to make this
offering soon after sunrise on the seventh day after the birth of the child.
The offering consists of the sacrifice of a well-nourished goat or ox. It is Sunna to offer 2 goats on behalf of a
male child. It is Sunna to separate the meat without damage to the bones, and to make gravy with the meat,
adding a little sugar to taste, before distributing it.
It is Sunna to give the right rear limb to the mid-wife, if she is a Muslim. With regards to apportioning the meat,
the rules of Udhhiya apply i.e. allotting a share to oneself, giving a potion away as gift [hadiya], and giving a
potion away in charity [adaqa].
Al-Arus, I (1999). fatu d-dayyn f fiqhi khairi l-adyn. 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: A.S.Noordeen. p380.
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Chapter on Birth of a Child:
After making the offering of Aqqa on the seventh day after birth, it is Sunna to shave the infants head and to
give away in charity [adaqa] gold or silver to the weight of the hair removed.
It is makrh to leave a tuft of hair unshaved on the infants head.
It is makrh to apply on the infants head any blood obtained from the Aqqa.
Al-Arus, I (1999). fatu d-dayyn f fiqhi khairi l-adyn. 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: A.S.Noordeen. p381.
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Tawz for Pacifying a Weeping Infant (to be placed under the head or pillow of the child):

Shuaib, T (2010). Al-Munjiyat. 5th ed. Kilakarai: Arusiyya Tekke. p346.

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Miscellaneous:
It is stated in Qalid that whoever has his head shaved on forty Wednesdays will grow up to be very learned in
Jurisprudence. A saying which passed as Prophetic tradition among common people, viz. whoever has his head
shaved on forty Wednesdays will grow up to be very learned in Jurisprudence reached my mother when I was
yet a child, and she actually put that into practice by having my head shaved accordingly. Allah has granted to
me what He has granted to me, and I am grateful to Him.

( )
Al-Arus, I (1999). fatu d-dayyn f fiqhi khairi l-adyn. 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: A.S.Noordeen. p385.
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Al-Quran 4:9
wa lyakhsha l-ladhna law tarak min khalfihim
dhurriyyatan ifan khf alaihim falyattaqu
Llaha wa lyaql qawlan saddan.
Those people should be fearful (in their behaviour towards
orphans) who, if they leave behind some helpless children,
would remain anxious for them. So, they should fear Allah
and say what is right.
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And the parents reply:

(jazka Llhu khairan) or May Allah reward you with goodness.