Etiquette of welcoming a Newborn

by Asma bint Shameem

🌷1.Aqeeqah 

This is to sacrifice two sheep for the male child and one for the female.

Doing ‘Aqeeqah for the newborn is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah, according to the stronger scholarly opinion. 

That means it’s something “recommended” and not something obligatory. 

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“With the boy there should be ‘aqeeqah, so shed blood on his behalf and remove the harm (i.e., circumcision).” (al-Bukhaari, no. 5049)

🌷2.Shaving the head of the baby. 

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said: 

“The boy is in pledge for his ‘Aqeeqah which should be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he should be named and his head shaved.” (at-Tirmidhi-saheeh by al-Albaani)

Some ulama say that it’s not allowed to shave the head of the baby girl because it’s generally prohibited to shave a female’s head, but it can be shaved if there’s a need for it.

🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said: 

“It is not Sunnah to shave a girl’s head on the seventh day as is the case for boys. 

With regard to shaving it for a reason, as referred to in the question, if that is true, the scholars say that it is makrooh to shave the head of a girl, but it may be said that if it is proven that this is something that will make the hair grow and become thick, then there is nothing wrong with it, because it is well known that what is makrooh is no longer regarded as makrooh if there is a reason for it.”

(Majmoo’at As’ilat Tahumm Al-Usrat Al-Muslimah, P. 147)

But other scholars like Shaikh al-Albaani said that it should be shaved, even if there’s no need. 

🍃 Shaikh Al-Albaani was asked whether the hair of the newborn girl should be shaved?

He said: “[Yes], like the boy”

So generally speaking, the majority of the ulama said that the baby girl is included in the recommendation to shave the head. 

🍃 Imaam San’aani said:

“His Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam statement in the Hadeeth  of Samurah [Shave his head] is evidence of the legislation of shaving the head of the newborn on the seventh day. What is apparent is it is general for shaving the hair of the young boy and girl”.

🌷3. Giving sadaqah approximately equal to the weight of the hair in gold or silver 

🍃 Ali radhi Allaahu anhu said:

 “The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam offered a sheep as ‘aqeeqah for al-Hasan, and said: ‘O Faatimah, shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver in charity.’” (at-Tirmidhi -hasan by al-Albaani)

🌷4.Circumcision for a baby boy

 It is part of the fitrah and Sunnah to circumcise the baby boy and even Ibraheem Alaiyhis-Salaam was circumcised. 

🍃 The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Five things are part of the fitrah (natural disposition of man): circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hair.” 

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim) 

🌷5.Naming the newborn:

It’s recommended to name the child on the seventh day when he should also have his Aqeeqah done and his head shaved. 

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said;

“Every child is in pledge for his ‘aqeeqah, which should be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, when he should be named and his head shaved.” 

(al-Tirmidhi, 1522; Abu Dawood, 3838; saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 1165)

But if the child is named earlier or later than that, then that’s also permissible. 

🍃 Someone asked Shaikh Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbad:

“The one who slaughters the animal for the Aqeeqah before the seventh day, does it count for him?”

The Shaikh said:

” What is apparent is that it counts for him because slaughtering on the seventh day is not obligatory, but only recommended”. (Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 334)

🔺 A child should be given a good name from the names of Muslims 

- the best of names are those that include “Abd” and added to one of the Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala 

For example:

The best names are:

Abdullaah or Abdur Rahmaan for baby boys. 

🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

 “The most beloved of names to Allaah are ‘Abd-Allaah and ‘Abd al-Rahmaan.” 

[Saheeh Muslim 1398)]

Or we can use the word “Abd” with other Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala for a boy. 

Other good names include the names of Prophets, the Sahaabah and other righteous people. 

Besides these, ANY good Islaamic names that have good meanings may be given. 

🌷6.Tahneek

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would perform Tahneek for the newborn baby. 

🍃 Abu Moosa radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“I had a baby boy, and I brought him to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

He named him Ibraaheem, did Tahneek with some dates and prayed for Allaah to bless him, then he gave him back to me.” (al-Bukhaari, 5150; Muslim, 2145)

🍃 And Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa narrates that “The people used to bring their newborn children to the Prophet and he would bless them and perform the tahneek.” (Muslim 560)

But there’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about Tahneek, or the practice of giving something sweet to the newborn upon birth. 

Some of the scholars are of the opinion that it’s a Sunnah. 

But others said that was only something specific for the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam because his saliva was blessed. 

🌷7. Giving Adhaan in the newborn baby’s ear:

There’s a difference of opinion among the ulama about calling adhaan in the newborn’s ear. 

Some ulama say it’s Sunnah to do so (recommended and not obligatory), depending upon whether they consider the hadeeth that reports it, authentic or not;

But other ulama like Shaikh al-Albaani considered it a weak hadeeth and so he did not recommend giving adhaan in the ear of the newborn. 

If you don’t give adhaan in the newborn’s ear, or if you do, in either case it’s always good to make general duaa and ask Allaah to guide the baby and make him righteous. 

And Allaah knows best

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