SUMMARY: New children are a blessing and a trust from Allah, and accordingly parents should welcome these entrants to their family with the best affection and love as epitomized in the example of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.
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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.
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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.
Abu Rafi Qibti reported: “I saw the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, call the Adhan in the ear of Hasan Ibn ‘Ali when his mother Fatimah gave birth to him.” (Tirmidhi 1514)
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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. Within the reported saying compiled in Sahih Muslim of the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, 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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. 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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, performed tahnik on his own grandchildren symbolizing and welcoming the sweetness of iman to the newborn.
Aisha bint Abi Bakr reported that newborn children would be brought to the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, and he would supplicate for blessings for them, and rub a chewed date upon their palate. (Sahih Muslim)
Aqeeqah
An Aqeeqah is Sunnah Muakkadah – an encouraged, voluntary act of worship. It is a celebration where the family of a newborn sacrifices an goat or sheep as an act of gratitude, and then distributed its meat 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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, 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” (Sunan Abi Dawud).
Other recommended acts
The Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, told his daughter Fatimah upon the birth of her son Hasan ibn Ali: “Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver to the poor.” [Musnad Ahmad]. Also, a newborn boy is circumcised.
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.
- Dua – at prayer time, include the children in dua 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 – some 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
Not every new child in the home may 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, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, had twelve bonus children from the wives he married: two from Khadijah, 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 mistreating any or failing to provide love, protection, maintenance and comfort, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. Zaynab bint Abi Salama, the daughter of Umm Salamah, was welcomed into the household. She was originally known as Barrah, but the Prophet changed her name and was a loving father who played with and cared for her with the same intensity of his own biological children, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him.
Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would play with Zaynab, the daughter of Umm Salamah, and keep saying, “O Zaynab! O Zaynab!” (Ahadith Mukhtarah)
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.
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Raising Stepchildren like the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him
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