Contents: There are numerous recommended things to be done after the birth of a child, all of which are found in the Noble ahadith of the Prophet of Islam (S) and his righteous successors. Most of these acts have been mentioned in this Chapter along with the ahadith which show the importance of these various actions.

There are eight items mentioned in the books of upbringing children which should be carried out after a child is born and they are the following:

Recommended Act 1

The very first thing to do when a child is born is to recite Adhan in the right ear of the baby and Iqamah in the left ear of the new-born:

The Prophet Muhammad (S) has said:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ : مَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ مَوْلُودِ فَلْيُوَذِنْ فِي أُذُنِهِ الْيُمْنَى بِأَذَانِ الصَّلاةِ وَليَقِمْ فِي أُذُنِهِ اليسرى فَإِنَّهَا عِصْمَةٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجيم

“The person who has a child born to him must recite the call to Salat (the Adhan) in his right car and the Iqamah in the left ear since this act will protect the child from the cursed Shaitan”.

Recommended Act 2

Giving the new-born baby a Ghusl is also a highly recommended act to be carried out (as long as it is medically safe and would not be harmful to the baby):

Imam Ja'far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (‘a) has said:

قَالَ جَعْفَرَ ابنُ مُحَمَّد الصادق : غُسْلُ الْمَوْلُود واجب

"It is obligatory1 to give the new-born child a Ghusl”.

Recommended Act 3

A little bit of dirt from the grave of Imam Husayn Ibn 'Ali ash-Shaheed (‘a) should be rubbed onto the gums of the child (mixed with water from the Euphrates River in 'Iraq, if available):

Imam Muhammad Ibn 'Ali al-Baqir (‘a) has said:

قَالَ مُحَمَّدَ ابن عَلى الباقرُ : حَنكُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ بِمَاء الْفُرَات . بتربة الحسين الله فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَيمَاء السَّمَاء.

“Give your children water from the River of Furat (Euphrates) and dirt from the grave of al-Husayn (peace be upon him) and if you cannot get the water of al­ Furat, then use the water which falls from the sky (rain).”

Recommended Act 4

It has been narrated that one should name the baby while it is in the womb, but it is better that one announces this name to others on the seventh day after birth:

Amir al-Mu’minin 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) has said:

قال أميرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٌّ ابن أبي طالب : سَمُّوا أَوْلادَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُولدوا

“Name your children before they are born (while they are in the womb)”

Recommended Act 5

It is highly recommended to have a Walimah or dinner on the seventh day after the birth of a child in which family and friends are invited to share in the auspicious occasion of the new-born coming into the world. The hadith also tells us that in order for this recommended act to be fulfilled, a minimum of ten people should be invited from among the 'rich' and 'poor' of the community, so that all can equally take part and celebrate this blessed occasion:

The Prophet Muhammad (S) has said:

قَالَ رَسُولُ الله : لا وَلِيمَّةَ إِلا فِي خَمْسِ فِي عُرْسٍ أَوْ فِي خرْسِ أَوْ عِذَارٍ أَوْ وَكَازٍ أَوْ رِكَازِ فَالْعُرْسُ التَّزْوِيجُ وَالْخرْسُ النَّفَاسُ بِالْوَلَدِ وَ الْعَذَرُ الْختَانِ وَ الْوِكَاز الرَّجُلُ يَشْتَرِي الدَّارَ وَ الرِّكَاز الرَّجُلُ يَقْدَمُ مِنْ مكة.

“There is no Walimah except for five occasions: In the 'Urs or the Khurs or the 'Idhar or the Wikaz or the Rikaz. So then as for the Urs this is the marriage; and the Khurs is when a child is born; and the 'Idhar is at the time of circumcision (of the boy); and the Wikaz is when a person purchases a house; and the Rikaz is when a one returns home from Makkah (after performing the Hajj or 'Umrah)”

Recommended Act 6

The hair on the head (of the baby from in the womb) should be completely shaved off and the weight of this hair should be calculated in gold or silver, and this amount should be given in charity to the poor and needy people - this hair should then be buried in the ground. It is recommended to do this on the seventh day after birth if possible:

Imam Musa Ibn Jafar al-Kadhim (‘a) has said:

قَالَ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرِ الْكَاظِمُ : وَ يُحلَقُ رَأْسُهُ فِي السَّابِعِ وَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بوزنه ذهباً أَوْ فِضَّة.

“The head (of the child) should be shaved on the seventh day after birth and sadaqah (charity) should be given in gold or silver for the weight of the hair”

Recommended Act 7

It is obligatory to ensure that the circumcision of the male child is performed, and it is also recommended to perform this on the seventh day after birth.

Amir al-Mu’minin 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) has said:

قَالَ عَلِيُّ ابن أبي طالب : إِعْتَلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ يَوْمَ السَّابِعِ وَلَا يمنعكُمْ حَرّ ولا باردٌ فَإنَّهُ طَهِّرُ للجسَد.

"Circumcise your (male) children on the seventh day and do not let the heat or cold (weather) prevent you from doing this since this act purifies the body”

Prayer 1

The following Du'a should be read while the circumcision is taking place:

اللهم هذه سنتكَ وَ سُنَّةُ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَواتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ) وَ أَنْبَاعٌ مِنَّا لَكَ وَ لدينكَ بِمَشِيَّتِكَ وَ إرَادَتِكَ لأَمْرِ أَرَدْتُهُ وَ قَضَاءِ حَتَمْتَهُ وَ أَمْرِ المُفَضَتَهُ.

"O' Allah! Surely, (what we are performing) is in line with Your tradition and the tradition (Sunnah) of Your Prophet (may Your blessings be upon him and his family) - to obey You and Your religion and to fulfil Your will, intention and to carry out the rules which You have decided to make to be followed to be conditionally.

فَأَذَقْتُهُ حَرَّ الْحَدِيدِ فِي ختَانِهِ وَ حِجَامَتِهِ لأَمْرِ أَنْتَ أَعْرَفُ بِهِ مِنِّي. اللَّهُمَّ فَطَهِّرْهُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَ زِدْ فِي عُمْرِهِ وَ ادْفَعُ الْأَفَاتِ عَنْ بَدَنِهِ وَ الْأَوْجَاءَ عَنْ حَسْمِهِ وَزِدْهُ مِنَ الْغَنِي وَ ادْفَعْ عَنْهُ الْفَقْرَ فَإِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ وَ أَنَا لا تَعْلَمُ

You have thus given him the taste of the heat of the iron through his circumcision and cupping for a matter which You definitely know better than we do. O' Allah! Then cleanse him of sins; increase his age; and release from his body, epidemics and pains and increase his wealth; and save him from poverty; since Surely, You know better and we do not know”

Recommended Act 8

An animal should be slaughtered in the name of the child for his or her protection. It is further recommended that if the child is a boy, a male animal is slaughtered; and if it is a girl, then a female animal is slaughtered.

Some of this meat should be given to the poor and needy Muslims and the rest of it to others; however, it should be noted that it is highly discouraged for the mother and father (and anyone who is dependent upon the father of the child for their sustenance such as parents, other children, etc to eat this meat:

Imam Ja'far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (‘a) has said:

قَالَ جَعْفَرَ ابْنَ مُحَمَّد الصَّادِقُ : الْعَقِيقَةُ وَاجبَةً

“The 'Aqiqah (slaughtering of an animal) is obligatory” 2

Prayer 2

At the time of slaughtering the animal for the 'Aqiqah, the following supplication should be recited. At the end of the supplication, one should say his name and the name of his father (thus, if the father's name is Tahir and his father's name is 'Abdullah you would say, Tahir Ibn (the son of) 'Abdullah). This supplication begins with Verses 78 and 79 of Surah al-An'am (Chapter 6) followed by Verses 162 and 163 of Surah al-An'am (Chapter 6):

يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

O' my nation! Surely, I disown myself from that which you associate [with Allah] (6:78).

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Surely, I have fumed my entire presence towards He who has brought forth the Heavens and the Earth sincerely and I am not of those who set up partners [with Allah] (6:79).

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Surely, my Salat and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all entirely for Allah, the Lord of the all the Worlds (6:162).

لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

He has no partners and to this I have been commanded (to attest to) and I am the first of those who submit as Muslims (6:163).

اللهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَ إِلَيْكَ بِسْمِ اللهِ وَ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ تَقَبَّلْ من…

[name of person and the father]

“O' Allah! Surely, this (animal) is from You and it goes back to You in the Name of Allah and Allah is greater than any description which can be mentioned of Him. O' Allah! Shower your prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and accept this from [At this point mention your name and your father's name]."

Prayer 3

The following supplication should also be read while the animal is being slaughtered (whether the child is a boy or girl):

بسم الله و بالله والْحَمْدُ لله واللهُ أَكْبَرُ إِيْمَاناً بالله و ثناء عَلَى رَسُول الله صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآله وَسَلَّمَ وشكراً لرزْقِ الله وَ عِصْمَةٌ بأمر الله وَ مَعْرِفَةٌ بِفَضْلِهِ عَلَيْنَا أَهْلَ البيت

"In the Name of Allah and in Allah and All Praise belongs solely to Allah and Allah is Greater than any description which can be mentioned of Him. With full faith in Allah and admiration upon the Prophet Muhammad (may the blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) and they are thankful for the sustenance of Allah and the protection afforded by the command of Allah and complete cognizance with His bounties upon us the Ahl Al-Bayt."

If the child is a boy, then the following supplication should also be said:

اللهُمَّ أَنتَ وَهَبْتَ لَنَا ذَكَراً وَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَهَبْتَ، وَ مِنْكَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَ لَكَ مَا صَنَعْنَا فَتَقَبَّلُهُ مِنَّا عَلى سُنتِكَ وَ سُنَّة رَسُولِكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَ أَحْسِءُ عَنَّا الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّحِيمِ، لَكَ سَفَكْتُ الدِّمَاءَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَ الْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

“O' Allah! You have gifted us with a son and You know better what You have gifted us than even we know and back to You is that which You have granted to us and back to You is that which we make so then accept from it (this sacrifice) from us upon Your Tradition (Sunnah) and the Tradition (Sunnah) of Your Messenger (may the blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) and keep us distanced from the stoned Shaitin. For You the blood (of this animal) has been spilt, and You have no partners and all the Praise belongs solely to Allah, the lord of all the Worlds."

Prayer 4

The follow supplication should also be recited at the time of the slaughtering of the animal. When one reaches to the square brackets, you would say the name of the child and his or her father (for example if the child's name is fa bir and his father's name is Kumayl then you would say fabir Ibn (the son of) Kumayl) and then continue on with the rest of the supplication. The first version of the supplication is for a boy, the second supplication is if the child is a girl.

‏ بسم الله و بالله. اللهم هذه عَقيقَةٌ عَنْ…..

[name of child and the father]

لَحْمُهَا بِلَحْمه و دَمُها بدمه وعَظْمُها بعظمه. اللهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا وقَاء لَهُ بال مُحَمَّد صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم.

“In the Name of Allah and by Allah, this Aqiqah (slaughtering of an animal) is for [name of the child and his father's first name]. Its flesh instead of his flesh; its blood instead of his blood; its bones instead of his bones are all offered to You. O, Allah! accept it for that by which this child may be protected and preserved, in the name of the progeny of Muhammad, blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny”

‏ بسم الله و بالله. اللهم هذه عَقيقَةٌ عَنْ…..

[name of child and the father]

لَحْمُهَا بِلَحْمه و دَمُها بدمه وعَظْمُها بعظمه. اللهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا وقَاء لَهُ بال مُحَمَّد صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم.

“In the Name of Allah and by Allah, this Aqiqah (slaughtering of an animal) is for (name of the child and her father's first name). Its flesh instead of her flesh; its blood instead of her blood; its bones instead of her bones are all offered to You. O, Allah! accept it for that by which this child may be protected and preserved, in the name of the progeny of Muhammad, blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny”

Recommended Act 9

The ears of the child, whether boy or girl should be pierced as this is one of the traditions of the Prophet of Islam (S) and his legitimate successors.

Imam Ja 'far Ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (‘a) has said:

قَالَ جَعْفَرَ ابْنَ مُحَمَّدِ الصَّادِقُ : ثقتُ أذن الغلامُ من السنة.

"Piercing the ear of the boy is from the Sunnah (of the Prophet)."

• 1. The meaning of obligatory (wajib) in this hadith is a highly recommended act and not 'obligatory' as in the Jurisprudential sense of the word. (Tr.).
• 2. The meaning of obligatory (wajib) in this hadith is a highly recommended act and not 'obligatory' as in the Jurisprudential sense of the word. (Tr.).