Welcoming a new child

In Islam, children are an Amanah – a trust.  Parents are the guardians responsible for the guidance and nurturing of their child.  Children are a gift bestowed upon a family by Allah and therefore a blessing.  A child raised to believe in the oneness of Allah and prays for his or her parents is a source of reward.  When a new child enters the home of a Muslim, it is a time for joy, happiness and thankfulness.  Parents and family should welcome the new child in the manner as the Prophet Muhammad (saw).

Adhan

In Islam, it is sunnah to call the adhan in the ear of the newborn.  This following the tradition and example of Prophet Muhammad (saw). 

Narrated by Abu Raafi’ who said, “I saw the Prophet (pbuh) call the Adhaan in the ear of Al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali when hismother Fatimah gave birth to him.”

 [Tirmidhi]

Best Names

One of the greatest ways of welcoming a new child into a family is to give the child a meaningful and honorable name.  Many Muslims will name choose name from the prophet (saw) himself or other prophets or pious people of note in history.  Welcoming a child with a beautiful name follows the way and course of conduct, i.e. sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).  Within the reported saying of Rasullah (saw) compiled in Sahih Muslim, we find the following:

“You shall be called by your names and the names of your fathers, so give good names to your children.”

"The most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur Rahman".

Sweetness

The tradition of tahnik comes directly from the actions of Prophet Muhammad (saw).  Tahnik involves softening or chewing a date and then rubbing the palate of the newborn with the softened date immediately or soon after birth.   Prophet Muhammad (saw) performed tahnik on his own grandchildren symbolizing and welcoming the sweetness of iman to the newborn

 Aisha (ra) reported that: “Newborn children used to be brought to the Messenger of Allah and he would supplicate for blessings for them, and rub a chewed

date upon their palate.” [Muslim]

Aqeeqah

An Aqeeqah is Sunnah Mu'akkadah – an encouraged, voluntary act of worship.  An Aqeeqah is a celebration where the family of a newborn sacrifices an goat or sheep as an act of gratitude.  The meat is distributed to family, friends and the needy.  Although this is not an obligatory sunnah, it is a wonderful way to welcome a newborn child and is typically done on the seventh day after a child’s birth.  However, many scholars of Islamic fiqh have determined that the aqeeqah itself can be done later, even up to the time the child reaches puberty or by the child themself if their parents did not perform it when they were younger.

The Messenger (pbuh) said: “Every child is in pledge for its ‘Aqeeqah which is sacrificed for it on its seventh day,and it is named on it, and its head is shaved” 

[Abu Dawood].

Other recommended acts

When Fatima (RA)’s son Al-Hasan (ra) was born, the Prophet (pbuh) told his daughter, Fatima (ra): “Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver to the poor.” [Ahmad].  Also, if a newborn child is a baby boy, circumcision is performed. 

Siblings

The birth of a newborn child can be stressful for young children, especially if the newborn child is the second child and the first child has long been the focus of attention.  Parents can help children welcome the newborn by making them feel included and explaining what is happening.  A few tips:

• Prepare – explain to siblings that a new baby is coming.  
• Du’a – at prayer time, include the children in du’a for the blessings of a healthy child.
• Adhan – allow the child to see the parent making the adhan in the baby’s ear.  Explain how this introduces the baby to Allah and the ways of Islam.  Share with the child how the same was done for them.
• Introduce – siblings fear a new child will somehow disrupt their place in their parents’ hearts.  A new baby can be introduced to siblings in a non-threatening manner by placing the newborn in a basinet or on a blanket.
• Involve in preparations – children can help prepare the home as well as help with an aqeeqah if one is planned
• Focus – Parents should avoid constantly cooing over the newborn and ignoring conversation and attention with their other children. 
• Encourage – parents should allow children, even toddlers to show love and affection to the new child.  Demonstrate and model gentle touching or talking softly.  Explain what can be harmful to the new baby and affirm that the child understands.

Welcoming all new children

Every new child in the home may not be a newborn.  Other new children of any age may enter the Muslim’s home as orphans, adopted children and stepchildren.  These bonus children into the home should be welcomed with the greatest kindness and inclusion emulating the prophetic example.  The Prophet Muhammad (saw) had 12 bonus children from the wives he married: two from Khadijah (RA), five from Sawdah, four from Umm Salamah and one from Ramlah.

Although the lives and experiences of these stepchildren is not heavily reported upon, there are no accounts of the prophet (saw) mistreating any or failing to provide love, protection, maintenance and comfort.  In seerah, Zaynab bint Abi Salama, the daughter of Umm Salamah a woman the Prophet (pbuh) married was welcomed into the prophet’s household.  She was originally known as Barrah, but the prophet (saw) changed her name and was a loving father who played with and cared for her with the same intensity of his own biological children.   

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would play with Zaynab, the daughter of Umm Salamah. The Prophet would keep saying, 

“O Zaynab! O Zaynab!”

Source: al-Aḥādīth al-Mukhtārah

Let bonus children be welcomed by all family members with the same level of affection.
 

Author bio: Mahasin D. Shamsid-Deen is the news curator and content manager for Muslim Network TV (MNTV) and contributing writer for Sound Vision.  She holds a Master’s degree in English Writing and has worked as both a High School and College ESL Instructor and Writing Instructor for more than a decade.  Mahasin has numerous published articles, books, essays and is a published playwright with three award winning stage plays.  She is currently writing her dissertation for her doctoral degree.