Islamic Birth celebrations
In Islam, there are simple rituals that are held for welcoming a child.
When a baby is first born, the father whispers into the baby's ear saying:
"God is great, there is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Come to prayer."
This is usually said on the baby's right ear and are the first few words a muslim baby hears.
A babys first taste of food should be something sweet.
The parents ocasionally chew on a date and rub the juice over the baby's gums.
Doing this will help the baby's small digestive systems work better.
This was a method carried out by the Prophet Muhammad.
Just to clarify
As nearly a quater of the worlds population is Islam, some people get mixed between Muslim and Islam.
In fact, they are the same!
Islam is the religion, and Muslim is person who follows/practices the religion Islam.
It is the same as Christians are a follower of Christianity.
The Aqiqah ceremony
This ceremony is performed when the baby is 7 days old.
The word "Aquiqah" comes from the Arabic word Aqqa which means "to slaughter an animal."
There are various events that will take place in this ceremony. These include:
- Shaving the hair
- Sacrificing a sheep/goat
- Giving the childs name
- Circumcision (If boy)
Shaving the hair
When the baby's hair is shaved, the hair that has been cut would be weighed and then the value of its weight in gold or silver is donated for charity.
Sacrificing a sheet/goat
In this ocassion, the family sacrifices a goat. One third of the animal is eaten by the family, and the rest is donated to the poor.
Name giving
Muslims have their childs named with meaningful names which will reflect the childs personality and habbits.
The name of the child does not have to be Arabic but has to be suitable and appropiate.
In Muslim families, the parents usually choose the baby's first name while the child may also have different middle names which specifies the families background.
There are some prohibited names in Islam.
For example, the Prophet Muhammad once changed a person's name from Harb (war) into Silm (peace).
Names that are disgraceful to Allah are also forbidden.
The recommended names in Islam are names that serve or resembel Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad used to recommend Muslims to have their sons named Abdullah (worshiper of Allah)
or Abdelrahman (worshiper of the most merciful).
Muslims also name their sons from previous prophets for example:
- Musa (Moses)
- Isa (Jesus)
- Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Yahya (John the baptist)
For girls, the recommened names would be known women in history for example:
- Mayam (Mary)
- Khadijah (Abraham's first wife)
The girls could also have names which show moral excellence to Islam for example:
- Hanan (Mercy)
- Farah (Cheerfulness)
- Amina (Trustworthiness)
Circumcision
Newborn boys are circumcised during the first few days or a week after birth.
Any adult may perform this surgery and is a sign of health and hygiene.
Breastfeeding
In Islam, breasfeeding is strongly recommended to mothers.
But there are still mothers who are unwilling or unable to do this process. This is not a MUST do step but is considered the best for the family as it says in the Qu'ran.
“If they both (parents) decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame on them" (2:233).
It is also possible for a baby to be breastfed by a foster-mother. The same verse from the Qu'ran continues saying:
"And if you decide on a foster-mother for your offspring, there is no blame on you, provided you pay (the foster-mother) what you offered, on equitable terms" (2:233).
In accordance to the Qu'ran, a baby must be breastfed for approximately 2 years.
And since breastfeeding is such an important process in Islam due to it's nutrients which makes the child grow, it is recommended to do this.
"Mothers shall breastfeed their children for two whole years, for those who wish to complete the term" (2:233).
"Milk siblings?"
In Islam and other different cultures, there are many cases in which a baby would be breastfed by a "nurse-maid", or a "milk mother".
If a woman nurses a baby for more than five times before the baby is 2 years old, she is called the "Milk mother" of the child.
Bismillah ceremony
This is a traditional ceremony held when the child is precisely 4 years, 4 months and 4 days old.
It marks the first time that the angel Jibriel visited Muhammad.
On this day, it is the beginning of the childs religious education which means that the child must learn the first sentence of the Qu'ran by heart.
This is the first sentence of the Qu'ran:
"In the name of God, the compassionate, the Merciful."
When a baby is first born, the father whispers into the baby's ear saying:
"God is great, there is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Come to prayer."
This is usually said on the baby's right ear and are the first few words a muslim baby hears.
A babys first taste of food should be something sweet.
The parents ocasionally chew on a date and rub the juice over the baby's gums.
Doing this will help the baby's small digestive systems work better.
This was a method carried out by the Prophet Muhammad.
Just to clarify
As nearly a quater of the worlds population is Islam, some people get mixed between Muslim and Islam.
In fact, they are the same!
Islam is the religion, and Muslim is person who follows/practices the religion Islam.
It is the same as Christians are a follower of Christianity.
The Aqiqah ceremony
This ceremony is performed when the baby is 7 days old.
The word "Aquiqah" comes from the Arabic word Aqqa which means "to slaughter an animal."
There are various events that will take place in this ceremony. These include:
- Shaving the hair
- Sacrificing a sheep/goat
- Giving the childs name
- Circumcision (If boy)
Shaving the hair
When the baby's hair is shaved, the hair that has been cut would be weighed and then the value of its weight in gold or silver is donated for charity.
Sacrificing a sheet/goat
In this ocassion, the family sacrifices a goat. One third of the animal is eaten by the family, and the rest is donated to the poor.
Name giving
Muslims have their childs named with meaningful names which will reflect the childs personality and habbits.
The name of the child does not have to be Arabic but has to be suitable and appropiate.
In Muslim families, the parents usually choose the baby's first name while the child may also have different middle names which specifies the families background.
There are some prohibited names in Islam.
For example, the Prophet Muhammad once changed a person's name from Harb (war) into Silm (peace).
Names that are disgraceful to Allah are also forbidden.
The recommended names in Islam are names that serve or resembel Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad used to recommend Muslims to have their sons named Abdullah (worshiper of Allah)
or Abdelrahman (worshiper of the most merciful).
Muslims also name their sons from previous prophets for example:
- Musa (Moses)
- Isa (Jesus)
- Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Yahya (John the baptist)
For girls, the recommened names would be known women in history for example:
- Mayam (Mary)
- Khadijah (Abraham's first wife)
The girls could also have names which show moral excellence to Islam for example:
- Hanan (Mercy)
- Farah (Cheerfulness)
- Amina (Trustworthiness)
Circumcision
Newborn boys are circumcised during the first few days or a week after birth.
Any adult may perform this surgery and is a sign of health and hygiene.
Breastfeeding
In Islam, breasfeeding is strongly recommended to mothers.
But there are still mothers who are unwilling or unable to do this process. This is not a MUST do step but is considered the best for the family as it says in the Qu'ran.
“If they both (parents) decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame on them" (2:233).
It is also possible for a baby to be breastfed by a foster-mother. The same verse from the Qu'ran continues saying:
"And if you decide on a foster-mother for your offspring, there is no blame on you, provided you pay (the foster-mother) what you offered, on equitable terms" (2:233).
In accordance to the Qu'ran, a baby must be breastfed for approximately 2 years.
And since breastfeeding is such an important process in Islam due to it's nutrients which makes the child grow, it is recommended to do this.
"Mothers shall breastfeed their children for two whole years, for those who wish to complete the term" (2:233).
"Milk siblings?"
In Islam and other different cultures, there are many cases in which a baby would be breastfed by a "nurse-maid", or a "milk mother".
If a woman nurses a baby for more than five times before the baby is 2 years old, she is called the "Milk mother" of the child.
Bismillah ceremony
This is a traditional ceremony held when the child is precisely 4 years, 4 months and 4 days old.
It marks the first time that the angel Jibriel visited Muhammad.
On this day, it is the beginning of the childs religious education which means that the child must learn the first sentence of the Qu'ran by heart.
This is the first sentence of the Qu'ran:
"In the name of God, the compassionate, the Merciful."