This time we will explore the 17 Islamic rules for a newborn baby. A baby is a gift from Allah ta’ala that we must be grateful and keep it safe. So, How is the rule of Islam for the newborn baby? Below here is the following points that we must know.
1. Bless the newborn baby
Our Prophet Muhammad SAW said that we must bless our baby and make him or her among the righteous and pious. This act is one of the good deeds that Allah will weigh for it. Read more about Graceful Dua for a Newborn Baby in Islam
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When the son of Adam dies, all his good deeds come to an end, apart from three: sadaqah jaariyah (ongoing charity, such as a waqf or endowment), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous son who will pray for him.” (Narrated by Muslim).
2. Pray for the newborn baby
We can recite general duas for the new baby, this duas to make them be safe and sound, to be guided and so on. Read more about Prayers for Getting Pregnant in Islam You can Recite. Below here is the following duas that Allah said in Quran.
“(Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower!And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am delivered of a female – Allah knew best of what she was delivered – the male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her Mary, and lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast.” (Verses 3:35-36)
3. Adhaan
Adhaan must be recited into the baby’s right ear so that the first thing that he or she hears in this world will be the words of Tawheed. This point is the Sunnah for welcoming the newborn as the scholars said as well. Below here is the following hadith said.
“Tells us Musaddad, telling us Yahya from Sufyan he said, ‘told me’ Ashim bin ‘Ubaidillah from’ Ubaidullah bin Abi Rafi ‘from his father he said,” I saw the Messenger of Allah prayed in the ears of Hasan bin’ Ali when he was born Fatimah with adhaan’s prayer “. (Abu Dawud)
4. Iqamah
Referring the previous point that some scholars said the father should recite iqamah into the baby’s left ear. This suggestion is Sunnah for welcoming the new baby. Below here is the following hadith.
“Adhan in the ears of the newborn: Including the Sunnah, Adhan said to the right ear and Iqamah is recited on the left ear of the newborn, so the first voice heard by the child is Asma Allah SWT”.
(As-Sayyid Sabiq, Fiqih Sunnah)
5. Tahneek
Tahneek is mean putting something sweet such as dates or honey in the mouth when he or she is born. Do tahneek is mustahabb for the baby and pray for him. Below here is the hadith reported by Aby Moossa.
“I had a baby boy, and I brought him to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He named him Ibraaheem, did Tahneek with some dates and prayed for Allaah to bless him, then he gave him back to me.” (Bukhari Muslim)
6. Giving name to the child
The scholars said that is permissible to giving a name to the child on the first day or on the seventh day of the newborn baby. Read more about Blessing Prayers for Having a Child. The following hadith below here is explained.
Anas ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A boy was born to me this night and I have named him with the name of my father Ibraaheem.” (Muslim).
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7. Meaningful Name
While giving the name to the child, it must be the meaningful name. The meaningful name is important for the baby soon. A meaningful name for the child will automatically affect the child’s personality in the future. Below here is the hadith explain this.
“The name given to the child must be meaningful, lovely and good. On the Day of Resurrection, a person will be called by his name and the names of his parents. Therefore, a good name must be selected.” (Abu Dawood)
8. Good name affect the personality
A name that means is not only good but also it can affect the personality in the future. A name should often be carefully thought out for children to be pious for the parents and the people around them.
“The Messenger of Allah, (Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam) always changed names that were derogatory (Tirmizi) The name of one of the daughters of Sayyidna Umar was Asiyah (meaning, disobedient), the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam) changed it to Jamilah.” (Tirmizi and Ibn Majah)
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9. Not Gives Name that Intimate to Bad Character
Do not allow for parents to give a name that intimates with a bad character. Names that have a bad meaning will relate to bad characters as well. Here the following hadith is stated.
The grandfather of Sayyidna Sa’id bin al Musayyab presented himself before the Noble Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam) asked him his name “Hizn” was the reply (meaning, hard ground, surliness). He said, “Your name is Sahl (easy). He replied, “How can I change the name given to me by my father?” Sayyidna Sa’id says that from then on the hardness of character is found among us. (Bukhari)
10. The name selected for the child must be another name of Allah
In naming a child in Islam, the name chosen for the infant should be beside the name of Allah (Asmaul Husna). Allah’s names are owned by Allah alone, it is not for anyone’s use. More specifically, you can read the hadith below.
“When Sayyidna Hani came to Madinah with his people, they called him Abu Hakm. The Messenger of Allah, (Sallallaho alaihe Wasallam), said, “Only Allah, the Exalted, is Hakm. He alone is the One Who decides. Why do they call you Abu Hakm?” He replied, “If a dispute arises among my community, they ask me to decide between them. Both the parties are happy with my decision”. He said, “This is commendable. We must settle the disputes of our folk. Say, do you have any son?” “I have three sons, Sharih, Muslim, and Abdullah.” “Who is the eldest?” “Sharih is the eldest.” The Prophet said, “Your kuniyah (title) is Abu Sharih.” (Abu Dawood)
11. Do not give names to our children that indicate good fortune
There is another prohibition for parents to give names to their babies. Do not give names that indicate good fortunes, such as Aflah (successful), Nafe ‘(favorable), Ribah (useful) and Yasr (easy). The reason he is not allowed to give these names is if in a meeting someone is calling the person’s name, then one would think that no one has the name. Here is the following hadith about this prohibition.
“Do not give your sons the names of Yasar, Najeeh or Aflah. You will ask for them. If they are not there, the person replying would say ‘not here’. These are four names; do not refer to me after adding to these names” (Abu Dawood, Tirmizi)
12. Honorary Title
In Islam, it is allowed to give honorary titles to children. The give of this honor is the Sunnah. Below is one of the hadiths that explain this:
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was the best of people in attitude. I had a brother who was called Abu ‘Umayr, I think he was weaned. When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saw him he said: “Abu ‘Umayr, what happened to (your pet) bird?” He used to play with the bird.” (Bukhari Muslim)
13. The parents do not agree on a name
In other cases, if parents both father and mother do not agree on a name, then it is the privilege of the father to name the child. The child is known by his father. This is the command given in Quran, Allah says that.
“Proclaim their real parentage. That will be more equitable in the sight of Allah. And if ye know not their fathers, then (they are) your brethren in the faith, and your clients. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose (that will be a sin for you). Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” ( Verse 33:5 )
14. Aqeeqah
Aqeeqah in Islam is a way for to celebrate the birth of the children. In this celebration, aqeeqah consists of giving the name to the baby, shaving her or his hair, and also offering a sacrifice. Below here is one of the hadith in do Aqeeqah.
Salmaan ibn ‘Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For the boy, there should be an ‘aqeeqah. Slaughter (an animal) for him and remove the harmful thing [i.e., the foreskin] from him.” (Tirmidhi)
15. Aqeeqah for boy and girl
Usually, there are rules in implementing aqeeqah for baby boy and girl. It is said that baby boys are sacrificed with two goats while the girls are only one goat. After the goats are slaughtered, cooked and served. It is also distributed to relatives, neighbors, and people around. Here is a hadith about this.
“Aqeeqah is sunnah mustahibah for both, boy and girl. Two goats are sacrificed on the birth of a son and one on the birth of a daughter.” (Ahmad and Tirmizi and Ibn Shaibah)
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16. Head should be Shaved
In addition to the sacrificial goats, both baby boy, and baby girl, the baby hair should be shaved. This is the suggestion that delivered by Prophet Muhammad SAW as in the following hadith.
“Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A boy is ransomed by his ‘aqeeqah. Sacrifice should be made for him on the seventh day, he should be given a name and his head should be shaved.” (Tirmidhi)
17. Circumcision both boy and girl
Circumcision is one that deals with Fitrah. Circumcision is a disorder especially for a baby boy than a baby girl. Conducting circumcision is also one thing of the distinguished between the Muslims and the other.
Abu Hurayrah: “Five things are related to the Fitrah: circumcision, removing the pubic hairs, plucking the armpit hairs, cutting the nails, and trimming the mustache.” (Bukhari Muslim).
Hopefully, this post can help us as Muslim to remember in the rule for the newborn baby in Islam. With this rule, now we can know which is a good way to welcoming the newborn baby in an Islamic way.
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