[Q 156] Islamic Rituals for Newborns

Question

What are all the things that should be done when a child is born and at a specific time, if any?

Such as, Azan, Gutti, naming the child, or cutting his/her hair etc

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

After the birth of a child, it is recommended to recite the adhan and iqama in his ears. The adhan is recited in the right ear and the iqama is recited in the left ear. After that, a ‘ghuthi’ should be given to the child by a religious scholar, elder, or pious and righteous Muslim. The method of this is that the pious person takes a date or some other sweet thing, chews it well with his teeth, and then places it in the child’s mouth.

On the seventh day, the child should be given a name, and his head should be shaved. His ‘akikah’ should also be performed, and silver or gold equivalent to the weight of his hair should be donated in charity.

It is best to name the child after the names of the great scholars and pious people. For a boy, two goats/sheep or two shares in a larger animal should be sacrificed as akikah, while for a girl, one goat/sheep or one share in a larger animal should be sacrificed.

Answered by: Arif Raza Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Usman Attari