๐๐ญ๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
1) AQEEQAH
This is to sacrifice two sheep for the male child and one for the female. Doing โAqeeqah for the newborn is a *Sunnah Muโakkadah*, according to the stronger scholarly opinion.
That means itโs something โrecommendedโ and not something obligatory.
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โThere should be โaqeeqah, so shed blood on his behalf and remove the harmโ (al-Bukhaari, no. 5049)
2) SHAVING HEAD OF BABY
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โThe boy is in pledge for his โAqeeqah which should be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he should be named and his head shaved.โ (at-Tirmidhi-saheeh by al-Albaani)
Scholars like Shaikh al-Albaani say the head of the baby girl should also be shaved
Shaikh Al-Albaani was asked whether the hair of the newborn girl should be shaved?
He said: โ[Yes], like the boyโ
Generally speaking, the majority of the ulama said that the baby girl is included in the recommendation to shave the head.
Imam Sanโaani said: โHis sallahu alayhi wa salam statement in the Hadeeth of Samurah [Shave his head] is evidence of the legislation of shaving the head of the newborn on the seventh day. What is apparent is it is general for shaving the hair of the young boy and girlโ.
3) GIVING SADAQAH EQUAL TO WEIGHT OF HAIR IN GOLD OR SILVER
Ali radhi Allaahu anhu said: โThe Messenger of Allaah ๏ทบ offered a sheep as โaqeeqah for al-Hasan, and said: โO Faatimah, shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver in charityโโ (at-Tirmidhi -hasan by al-Albaani)
4) NAMING THE NEWBORN:
Itโs recommended to name the child on the seventh day when he should also have his Aqeeqah done and his head shaved.
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โEvery child is in pledge for his โaqeeqah, which should be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, when he should be named and his head shaved.โ (al-Tirmidhi, 1522; Abu Dawood, 3838; saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwaโ al-Ghaleel, 1165)
But if the child is named earlier or later than that, then thatโs also permissible.
Someone asked Shaikh Abdul-Muhsin al-โAbbad: โThe one who slaughters the animal for the Aqeeqah before the seventh day, does it count for him?โ
The Shaikh said: โ What is apparent is that it counts for him because slaughtering on the seventh day is not obligatory, but only recommendedโ. (Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 334)
A child should be given a *good name* from the names of Muslims – the best of names are those that include โAbdโ and added to one of the Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taโaala
For example: The best names are:
Abdullaah or Abdur Rahmaan for baby boys.
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โThe most beloved of names to Allaah are โAbd-Allaah and โAbd al-Rahmaan.โ [Saheeh Muslim 1398)]
Or we can use the word โAbdโ with other Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taโaala for a boy.
Other good names include the names of Prophets, the Sahaabah and other righteous people.
Besides these, ANY good Islaamic names that have good meanings may be given.
5) TAHNEEK
The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam would perform Tahneek for the newborn baby.
Abu Moosa radhi Allaahu anhu said: โI had a baby boy, and I brought him to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. He named him Ibraaheem, did Tahneek with some dates and prayed for Allaah to bless him, then he gave him back to me.โ (al-Bukhaari, 5150; Muslim, 2145)
And Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa narrates that โThe people used to bring their newborn children to the Prophet and he would bless them and perform the tahneek.โ (Muslim 560)
6) GIVING ADHAAN IN THE NEWBORN BABYโS EAR
Thereโs a difference of opinion among the ulama about calling adhaan in the newbornโs ear.
Some ulama say itโs Sunnah to do so (recommended and not obligatory), depending upon whether they consider the hadeeth that reports it, authentic or not.
But other ulama like Shaikh al-Albaani considered it a weak hadeeth and so he did not recommend giving adhaan in the ear of the newborn.
If you donโt give adhaan in the newbornโs ear, or if you do, in either case itโs always good to make general duaa and ask Allah to guide the baby and make him righteous.
7) CIRCUMCISION IS FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS ( MANDATORY for BOYS)
It is part of the fitrah and Sunnah to circumcise children (both boys and girls) and even Ibraheem Alaiyhis-Salaam and his wife Hajarah, mother of Ismail, Alahis-Salaam were circumcised. It is best to circumcise girls early, but boys should be circumcised later in life between 3-7 years of age. To circumcise boys in infancy must be avoided as it is the practice of the Jews.
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: โFive things are part of the fitrah (natural disposition of humans): circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustache, cutting the nails and plucking the armpit hair.โ (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
The term Fitrah refers to the inherent and natural qualities and ways of a human-being. The laws of the Shariah are equally applicable to men and women except where there is clear proof stating that women are exempted. The acts of Fitrah mentioned in the Hadith are general and relates to both male and female. Furthermore, there is no evidence indicating that circumcision is restricted to males only.
In fact, female circumcision was the norm and custom of Muslim women and was also endorsed by the Prophet ๏ทบ.
Consider the following Ahadith of the Prophet ๏ทบ;
“When the circumcised part meets the circumcised part then Ghusl is requiredโ (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
“When a man sits amidst the four parts (arms and legs of his wife) and the circumcised parts touch each other a bath becomes obligatory” (Sahih Muslim)
It is narrated in numerous books of Ahadith that a Sahabiyah by the name of Umm Atiyyah (r.a) used to circumcise females at the time of the Prophet ๏ทบ.
The Prophet ๏ทบ told Umm Atiyya (r.a) “Oh Umm Atiyya! Circumcise (remove the prepuce of the clitoris), but donโt cut deeply (don’t harm the clitoris), for that will be brighter for the face (i.e. satisfying for her) and more pleasing to the husband” (Abu Dawud, Tabarani, Baihaqi)
In another Hadith the Prophet ๏ทบ advises the women of the Ansaar in general regarding circumcision: “Oh women of the Ansaar! Apply henna and circumcise! but do not exaggerate (i.e.remove the foreskin around the clitoris, but don’t harm the clitoris) for it is more pleasing for your women folks when they are with their husbands” (Mukhtassar zawaid musnad al bazzar, Ibn Hajar)
The aforementioned Ahaadith and others clearly indicate that, not only was circumcision prominent amongst Muslim women but its action was also affirmed and endorsed by the Messenger of Allah ๏ทบ.
There is more. Imam Bukhari is best known for the compilation of the book Saheeh Al Bukhari. But did you know he compiled another book on Good Manners. It was called Adab Al Mufrad. In this great work, Imam Bukhari records two very important incidents in the days of the Sahabah which proves the blessed companions of our beloved Prophet (Sal) regarded circumcision as necessary for women.
Umm Al Muhajir says: โI was captured with some girls from Byzantium. (Caliph) Uthman offered us Islam, but only myself and one other girl accepted Islam. Uthman said: โGo and circumcise them and purify themโ
Umm Alqamah says that when the nieces of Ayisha’s brother were circumcised, ‘A’isha was asked: “Shall we call someone to amuse them?” “Yes” she replied.
And Allah knows best