Rafed English
site.site_name : Rafed English

Birth day ceremonies is commence right from the first birth day till the seventh day in order to save-guide the child's health physically and psychologically.

Making the child to hear the name of Allah is the first duty of the parents.

From the authority of Imam Jaafar bn Mohammad Assadiq (peace be upon him) he said : The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) said: "Whoever have a new born baby should call for prayer (Azan) in his right ear and call for beginning of prayer (Iqaamat) in his left ear, that protect him from the devil" 84.

For the importance of Azan and Iqamat in the child's ear, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) has bequeath the commander of the faithful Ali bn Abitalib (peace be upon him) in many of his testaments: "O' Ali if a baby boy or girl is born to you, you should recite Azan in his right ear and Iqamat in the left ear, by so doing the devil will not be able to harm him for ever" 85.

Protection from the devil is the fortification on the child from deviating from his wish. These advices even though the present educationist and psychologist did not make any research on it but it is among the experienced and repeated established fact for those that implement it in their child's training and other advices in all the child stages.

It is recommended to name your child with good names and there is no any better name than Mohammad i.e. the name of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants). From Imam Jaafar bn Mohammad Assadiq (peace be upon him) : "A child is not born to us except we named him Mohammad, after seven days if we wish we change it or we leave it at our wish" 86.

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his descendants) laid emphasis on this naming by saying: "He has verily turn away from me who have four baby boys without naming any one of them with my name" 87.

The Imams from the Ahlulbait (peace be upon them) do urge the Muslims to named their baby boys and girls with the following names :-

(Abdurrahman and its type having 'Abdul, Mohammad, Ahmad, Al-hassan, Al-Hussein, Jaafar, Talib and Fatima) 88.

They did not encourage giving the following names :- (Al-Hakeem, Hakeem, Khalid, Malik and Haarith) 89.

The good names protect the child from mockery and ridicules from others, so that it doesn't cause him to feel deficiency especially in an ugly name.

Aqeeq i.e. slaughtering of a sheep to mark the occasion and barbing the hair of the baby as it came from the sayings of Imam Jaafar Assadiq (peace be upon him) is among the birth day ceremonies, he (peace be upon him) said: "Slaughter on his behalf, barb his hair the seventh day and gives Alms (sadaqah) of its equivalent in silver" 90.

The offering which is the substantial of Alms giving (Sadaqah) prevent the child from problems and save him from risks.

May be it has positive effect on the child by the time he grows up and understand how the parents show their concern during his birthday. It is a good remembrance for those that received the offering or part of it as (Sadaqah) Alms giving.

Circumcision is among the birthday ceremonies. Imam Jaafar Assadiq (peace be upon him) said : "Circumcised your children on the seventh day after birth as it is more pure and quicker for growth of flesh" 91.

Notes:

84 - Al-kafi vol- 6:24/ 6th ch- Things to be done to a new born baby.

85 - Tuhfal Uquul: 17.

86 - Al-kafi vol- 6: 18 / 4th ch- The naming and nick name.

87 - Al-kafi vol- 6: 19 / 6th ch- The naming and nick name.

88 - Al-kafi vol- -6:19 chapter of names and nicknames.

89 - Al kafi vol -6: 21 chapter of names and nicknames.

90 - Al kafi vol -6: 27 / 1st chapter: Slaughtering at the seventh day from the birth day.

91 - Al kafi vol -6: 34/ 1st chapter: Purification.

Adapted from the book: "The Child's Education in Islam" by: "Ismail Abdullah"