Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette The birth of a baby is a joyous occasion, deserving of celebration. A new baby is a reminder of Allah's greatness, of the wonders and miracles in Allah's creation of the human body. Give thanks to Allah for this amazing gift He has given you. One smile from this tiny, beautiful person wrapped up in a soft blanket somehow brings to the whole family a renewed sense of hope, happiness, love, faith, and new beginnings. There are certain practices to keep in mind for mom and dad when welcoming the newborn baby in the first few days of life. Islam touches every part of our lives; the way we eat, cleanse the body, pray, fast, deal with other people, and even the way we greet and care for a newborn. In every step of caring for our children there is wisdom and kindness; and it starts first in picking a name for the little one. A name is something we will carry with us all of our lives, it shapes our personalities in some ways, and it forms the first impression we make upon the people we meet. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized that parents should choose meaningful, lovely, and good names for their children. It is not permissible to give a child a name that will affect him/her negatively, be a cause for ridicule, or a name that is derogatory or has an ugly meaning. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is known to have changed the names of some companions who had names with negative connotations. For example, he changed the names Harb meaning war to Silm meaning peace, Aasiyah (with the heavy Arabic letter ‘saad') meaning disobedient to Jamilah meaning beautiful, and the name Banu Az-Zania meaning the son of adultery to Banu Ar-Rushdah meaning the son of good people. The best names to select for a boy are Abdullah or Abdul-Rahman. It has been reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The most beloved of names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdul-Rahman.” (Sahih Muslim) Praiseworthy names for boys are also any of the names that express being the slave and worshiper of Allah, such as Abdul-Aziz, Abdul-Raheem, and Abdul-Lateef. Of the best names for a boy are the names of prophets: Muhammad, Ibrahim, Moosa, Nooh, Eesa, and all the prophets. For a boy or girl, pick the name of someone who was legendary in their piety, righteousness, and good qualities. For girls, amazing women of faith abound in our history: Mariam, Hannah, Hajar, Asya (with the light Arabic letter ‘seen'), Khadijah, Aisha, Fatimah, and Ruqayyah. As soon as the baby is born and is placed in your arms to be surrounded by your comforting love and security, say the call to prayer, the adhan, in your baby's right ear. Not only is it soothing for the baby to hear your familiar voice, but it also represents a declaration of faith for the baby, and is a form of protection for the baby from the devil. Once you have held, kissed, and comforted the baby, it is a good time to do the tahneek, which is softening a piece of date, and holding it in the newborn's mouth for the baby to suck on. In the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon) when a child was born and brought to the Prophet, he would moisten a small piece of date with his mouth and place it on the palate of the newborn. This practice, tahneek, stimulates the muscles of the newborn's mouth; the jaws and mouth are made active. It may make it easier for the baby to suckle on the mother's breast. Tahneek can be performed by a parent, relative, or member of the community, preferably from the people of knowledge and piety. The wisdom is that by sharing the piece of date with a pious Muslim, it is a source of blessing and a hope that the child will also be pious and upright. It is recommended to shave the hair of the newborn baby's head, on the seventh day of the baby's birth. The hair is collected and weighed; the parents should give in charity an equivalent of the weight of the baby's hair in silver. If it is cumbersome to get exact weights and measurements, you can estimate how much in silver the weight of the hair would be equal to, and donate that amount of money to the poor. It is sunnah to slaughter a sheep, cook the meat, distribute some to the poor, and invite loved ones to eat from the cooked meal. This feast is called aqeeqah. Some scholars suggest that it is preferable to hold the aqeeqah on the seventh, fourteenth, or twenty-first day of the baby's birth. Performing the aqeeqah is not obligatory but it is recommended and it is a way to show gratitude to Allah and to share your happiness with friends, family, and relatives. One sheep is slaughtered for the birth of a girl and two for the birth of a boy. This does not in any way imply more importance or merriment for the birth of a boy over a girl. In fact, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon) severely chastised the ignorant people in Arabia during his time who used to rejoice over the birth of a boy but were disgruntled over the birth of a girl. Circumcision for the baby boy is required in Islam. Muslims circumcise their infant boys in obedience to Allah's commands, but medical studies are now backing this practice as healthier for male health than non-circumcision. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that medically performed male circumcision could help decrease the risk of contracting HIV, sexually transmitted infections, as well as other health problems. From the moment you lay eyes on your beloved baby, who is a trust in your care, make supplication. Pray to Allah to grant your child health, wealth, piety, modesty, happiness, success, love, and the companionship of good friends.
