Practices to be carried out for a newborn child
Category:
Miscellaneous
According to Madhhab:
Hanafi
Reference:
1440-100
Question:
I would like to find
out when a baby is born what should be done that would be within the shariah
and also the sunnah
out when a baby is born what should be done that would be within the shariah
and also the sunnah
Answer:
On birth of a child, the Adhaan should be called out in the right ear and Takbeer in the left ear.
عن الحسن رضي الله عنهما قال : قال رس ول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من ولد له ولد فأذن في أذنه اليمنى ، وأقام في أذنه اليسرى
However, the Adhaan should be called out after the child is given Ghusl, as prior to Ghusl the child is considered to be in state of impurity; and taking the name of Allah in a place of impurity is Makrooh. Whilst rendering the Adhaan it is Mustahab to face the Qiblah. [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya pg.503/505 vol.6].
Tahneek is Mustahab for a new born baby; that is, the saliva of some pious person is entered into the mouth of a child (by means of a pious person chewing on a piece of date which is then placed into the mouth of the child), and as a result of this action it is hoped that the child will grow up to be pious and righteous. [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya pg.510 vol.6]
It is Sunnah to make Aqeeah (slaughter 2 goats or sheep for a boy and one for a girl) if the father has the financial ability to do so. The act of Aqeeqah is carried out in gratitude for the Bounty of Allah Ta'aala (of blessing him with a child). It is Mustahab to carry out the Aqeeqah on the 7th day, and it is on the 7th day that the hair of the child is also shaven. It is also permissible (and according to some scholars Mustahab) to apply some saffron to the head of the baby after shaving it [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya pg.483/487/485/495 vol.6].
Some charity may also be discharged.
A suitable name should be chosen for the child as stated in the Hadith below.
عَنْ أَبِِ سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّّ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: م مَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ وَلَفد فَلْيُسْسِنِ امََْهُ وَأَبَبَهُ، فَذِذَا بَلَ فَلْيُوَ وِهْهُ فَذِنْبَلَ وَلََْ يوَُ وِهْهُ فَأَصَابَ إِثًْْا، فَذِنَََّّا إِثُْْهُ عَلَى أَبِيهِ
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “For whomsoever a boy is born, give him a good name and teach him good etiquettes/ manners. When he reaches the age of puberty get him married. If he reaches the age of puberty but the father does not get him married, and he engages in sin, then his sin is upon the father.
The Hanafi jurists have stated that circumcision should be carried out when a child is seven years of age. There is yet another view which states that it is correct to circumcise the child when he has the ability to endure the pain experienced during circumcision. However, nowadays children are put under anaesthesia to minimize pain thus circumcision may be carried out even during infancy. [Re:- Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya pg.410 vol.7]
And Allah Ta'aala knows best!
ANSWERED BY: Mufti Mohammed Desai
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B
Date: 09 Safar 1440 English Date: 19 October 2018