What Are the Sunna Practices Related to a Newborn?
Answered by Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Question
What are the sunna practices related to a newborn?
Answer
In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, his Family, his Companions, and those who follow him.
Islam has given considerable attention and guidance concerning newborns. The Quran contains many verses that highlight the importance of choosing the right mother and father as a foundation for the righteousness of the offspring. Allah (Most High) says in the story of the Virgin Maryam (peace be upon her):
“O sister of Harun! Your father was not an indecent man, nor was your mother unchaste.” [Quran, 19:28]
At Birth
As for the Sunna, it is filled with details concerning the newborn and all matters related to them, from before their birth, during it, and afterward. Among the most important sunnas at birth are:
- Seeking protection for the newborn by reciting the complete words of Allah (Most High), seeking refuge from every devil, harmful creature, and envious eye, as mentioned in a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari.
- Calling the adhan in the right ear of the newborn and the iqama in the left.
- Tahnik (softening a date and rubbing it on the newborn’s palate).
After Birth
It includes:
- Shaving the newborn’s hair and giving charity in gold or silver equivalent to its weight.
- Performing the ‘aqiqa on the seventh day.
- Naming the child on the seventh day.
- Circumcision for boys and ritual cutting (khifad) for girls.
Book Recommendation
Those seeking more details may refer to specialized books. One of the most comprehensive and accessible works on this subject is “Tuhfat al-Mawdud bi Ahkam al-Mawlud” by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (Allah have mercy on him), a well-known book available to the public.
And Allah is the One who grants success and guides to the straight path.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Dr Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib is a prominent Islamic scholar from Yemen born in Shibam, Hadhramaut, in 1976. He received his degree in Shari‘a from Al-Ahqaf University, a master’s degree from the Islamic University of Beirut, and a PhD in Usul al-Din from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
He studied under great scholars such as Shaykh al-Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, Shaykh Fadl Ba‘ fadl, Habib Salim al-Shatiri, Habib Ali Mashhur bin Hafeez, and others. He has served as the Director of Publications at Dar al-Fiqh, the former Deputy Director of Cultural Relations at Al-Ahqaf University, a former Assistant for Employee Affairs at Atiyah Iron Company, a researcher at the Sunna Center affiliated with the Dallah al-Baraka Foundation, and a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch.
Currently, he is a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch, teaches traditionally through the Ijaza system at Dar al-Fuqaha in Turkey, supervises the Arabic department at Nur al-Huda International Institute (SeekersGuidance), and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Manuscript House in Istanbul.
His works include “The Efforts of Hadhramaut Jurists in Serving the Shafi‘i School,” “Contributions of Hadhramaut Scholars in Spreading Islam and its Sciences in India,” “Hada’iq al-Na‘im in Shafi‘i Fiqh,” in addition to verifying several books in Fiqh, history, the art of biographies, and Asanid (chains of narration).
