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| 6 Blessed Sunnah to welcome a Newborn Baby with Proofs from Quran & Sunnah |
6 Prophetic Sunnahs to Welcome Your Newborn with Barakah (Proofs from Quran & Sunnah)
The arrival of a newborn is a profound Amanah (trust) from Allah (SWT) and one of life's greatest blessings. The Prophet Muhammad (ï·º) described children as among the purest treasures of this world. To raise them righteously, we must begin their journey upon a foundation of faith, guided by the divine wisdom of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Following these proven traditions is not merely a cultural act; it is an act of worship that invites divine blessings (barakah), protection, and a righteous beginning for your child's life.
Here are 6 essential Sunnahs for a newborn, supported by evidence from the authentic Sunnah.
The Practice: The first sound to grace the newborn’s ears should be the call to prayer. The Adhan is recited in the baby’s right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear shortly after birth.
The Evidence:
This is based on the practice of the Prophet (ï·º). Abu Rafi’ (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“I saw the Prophet (ï·º) recite the Adhan (call to prayer) in the ear of Hasan ibn ‘Ali when Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) gave birth to him.”
Following these proven traditions is not merely a cultural act; it is an act of worship that invites divine blessings (barakah), protection, and a righteous beginning for your child's life.
Here are 6 essential Sunnahs for a newborn, supported by evidence from the authentic Sunnah.
1. The First Words: Reciting the Adhan and Iqamah
The Practice: The first sound to grace the newborn’s ears should be the call to prayer. The Adhan is recited in the baby’s right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear shortly after birth.
The Evidence:
This is based on the practice of the Prophet (ï·º). Abu Rafi’ (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“I saw the Prophet (ï·º) recite the Adhan (call to prayer) in the ear of Hasan ibn ‘Ali when Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) gave birth to him.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud 5105, graded -Hasan- by Al-Albani).
The wisdom is profound: the first words a child hears declare the greatness of Allah and the testimony of faith (La ilaha illallah), spiritually guarding them from evil from the very start.
The Practice: A pious person chews a small piece of a date (or a sweet substitute like honey) and gently rubs a tiny amount onto the baby's palate.
The Evidence:
This is a well-established Sunnah from numerous narrations. Abu Musa (رضي الله عنه) said:
“A son was born to me and I brought him to the Prophet (ï·º). He named him Ibrahim, did Tahneek with a date, and invoked Allah’s blessings upon him.”
The wisdom is profound: the first words a child hears declare the greatness of Allah and the testimony of faith (La ilaha illallah), spiritually guarding them from evil from the very start.
2. The Blessed Sweetness: Tahneek
The Practice: A pious person chews a small piece of a date (or a sweet substitute like honey) and gently rubs a tiny amount onto the baby's palate.
The Evidence:
This is a well-established Sunnah from numerous narrations. Abu Musa (رضي الله عنه) said:
“A son was born to me and I brought him to the Prophet (ï·º). He named him Ibrahim, did Tahneek with a date, and invoked Allah’s blessings upon him.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 5467, Sahih Muslim 2145).
The act of Tahneek, often performed by the righteous, is a means of seeking blessings for the child to be sweet-natured, intelligent, and strong in faith.
The act of Tahneek, often performed by the righteous, is a means of seeking blessings for the child to be sweet-natured, intelligent, and strong in faith.
3. A Name of Meaning: Choosing a Good Name
The Practice: Selecting a righteous and meaningful name for the child. It is a recommended Sunnah to do this on the seventh day, though it can be done earlier.
The Evidence:
The importance of a good name is underscored in a famous hadith. The Prophet (ï·º) said:
“You will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and by your fathers’ names, so give yourselves good names.”* (Sunan Abi Dawud 4948, graded -Sahih- by Al-Albani).
The best names are those that acknowledge servitude to Allah (e.g., Abdullah, Abdur-Rahman), names of the Prophets, and the names of the righteous.
4. The Sacrifice of Gratitude: Aqiqah
The Practice: On the seventh day after birth, it is a highly emphasized Sunnah (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) to sacrifice an animal: two sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl. The meat is cooked and shared with family, friends, and the needy.
The Evidence:
The command of the Prophet (ï·º) is clear. He said:
“Every child is in pledge for his ‘Aqiqah which should be sacrificed for him on the seventh day, his head should be shaved, and he should be given a name.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 4220, graded -Sahih- by Al-Albani).
In another narration, the Prophet (ï·º) instructed:
“For the boy, two sheep of equal age, and for the girl, one sheep.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 1516, graded -Hasan Sahih- by At-Tirmidhi).
Aqiqah is a powerful act of gratitude that ransoms the child, announces their birth, and feeds the poor.
The Practice: On the seventh day, the baby’s head is shaved. The weight of the hair is calculated in silver, and its monetary value is given in charity to the poor and needy.
The Evidence:
This practice is directly linked to the Aqiqah in the previously cited hadith of Samurah ibn Jundub (Sunan an-Nasa’i 4220). The Prophet (ï·º) connected the acts of sacrifice, shaving the head, and naming.
Furthermore, when Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) shaved the head of her sons Hasan and Hussain, she gave the weight of their hair in silver as Sadaqah. This act symbolizes purification and teaches the principle of charity from the first moments of life.
The Practice: Circumcision for male infants is a mandatory act in Islam (it is from the Fitrah). It is highly recommended to be performed early, often on the seventh day, for easier and quicker healing.
The Evidence:
Circumcision is a command from Allah's Fitrah. The Prophet (ï·º) said:
“The Fitrah is five: circumcision, shaving the pubes, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, and plucking the armpit hairs.”* (Sahih al-Bukhari 5889, Sahih Muslim 257).
While the timing is not explicitly specified in the primary texts, the practice of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) and the ease of doing it alongside the other seventh-day Sunnahs make it an ideal time.
Building a Foundation of Faith
These six Sunnahs provide a comprehensive, divinely-guided welcome for a new Muslim soul. They intertwine acts of worship (`Ibadah), charity (Sadaqah), and community, setting the stage for a life lived in submission to Allah.
May Allah grant all parents the Tawfiq to follow this beautiful guidance and make our children the coolness of our eyes and a source of ongoing reward. Ameen.
“For the boy, two sheep of equal age, and for the girl, one sheep.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 1516, graded -Hasan Sahih- by At-Tirmidhi).
Aqiqah is a powerful act of gratitude that ransoms the child, announces their birth, and feeds the poor.
5. A Symbol of Purity: Shaving the Head and Giving its Weight in Silver as Sadaqah
The Practice: On the seventh day, the baby’s head is shaved. The weight of the hair is calculated in silver, and its monetary value is given in charity to the poor and needy.
The Evidence:
This practice is directly linked to the Aqiqah in the previously cited hadith of Samurah ibn Jundub (Sunan an-Nasa’i 4220). The Prophet (ï·º) connected the acts of sacrifice, shaving the head, and naming.
Furthermore, when Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) shaved the head of her sons Hasan and Hussain, she gave the weight of their hair in silver as Sadaqah. This act symbolizes purification and teaches the principle of charity from the first moments of life.
6. The Seal of the Fitrah: Circumcision (Khitan)
The Practice: Circumcision for male infants is a mandatory act in Islam (it is from the Fitrah). It is highly recommended to be performed early, often on the seventh day, for easier and quicker healing.
The Evidence:
Circumcision is a command from Allah's Fitrah. The Prophet (ï·º) said:
“The Fitrah is five: circumcision, shaving the pubes, trimming the moustache, clipping the nails, and plucking the armpit hairs.”* (Sahih al-Bukhari 5889, Sahih Muslim 257).
While the timing is not explicitly specified in the primary texts, the practice of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) and the ease of doing it alongside the other seventh-day Sunnahs make it an ideal time.
Building a Foundation of Faith
These six Sunnahs provide a comprehensive, divinely-guided welcome for a new Muslim soul. They intertwine acts of worship (`Ibadah), charity (Sadaqah), and community, setting the stage for a life lived in submission to Allah.
May Allah grant all parents the Tawfiq to follow this beautiful guidance and make our children the coolness of our eyes and a source of ongoing reward. Ameen.
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