Rites At The Birth of a Child

In the Name of God and through God, this is the �aqīqa of�..(name of the girl), daughter of �. (name of the father): its flesh for her flesh, its blood for her blood, its bones for her bones, its hair for her hair, its skin for her skin. O God, let it be a protection of the family of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family.

Bi-�smi �llāhi wa-bi-llāh. Allāhumma hādhihi �aqīqatun �an �.(name of the girl) Ibnati . . . (name of the father) lahmu-hābi-lahmi-hā wa-damu-hābi-dami-hāwa- �azmu-hābi- �azmi-hā wa-sha΄ru-hābi-sha΄ri-hā wa-jildu- hābi-jildi-hā. Allāhmma� j΄al-hā waqā�an li-āli Muhammadin �alay-hi wa-āli-hi s-salām.

The hair of the baby s shaved. It is recommended to weigh the cut hair in silver, and give its value to the poor or to orphans as alms. A goat, a sheep or other such animal should be sacrificed either after shaving the hair or at the same time, but not before. It is recommended to read the following prayer at the time when the animal is about to be slaughtered:

O gathering, I am free from what you associate; I turn my face to He who split the heavens and the earth, a true believer and a Muslim, and not one of the polytheists. My prayer, my piety, my living, and my dying are for God, the Lord of the Words. O God, from You and to You, in the Name of God; God is greater. O God, bless Muhammad, and accept [this] from � (name of the child).

Son / daughter of �� (name of the father).

Yā qawmi innī barī�un mim-mā tushrikūna innī wajjahtu wajhīya li-�lladhī fatara s-samāwāti wa-l-arda hanīfam musliman, wa-mā anā mina l-mushrikīna. Inna salāt-ī wa nusuk-ī wa-mahyāyā wa-mamāt-īli-�llāhi rabbil-�alamīna sharīka la-h.

Wa-bi dhālika umirtu wa-anā mina l-muslimīna allāhumma min-ka wa-la-kabi-�smi�llāhi wa-�llāhu akabar.

Allāhumma salli �alā Muhammadin wa-āli Muhammadin wa-taqabbal min�..

(name of child) ibni (for a boy) / binti (for a girl)

�. (name of father)

After the sacrifice, the greater part of the meat should be distributed among the poor and needy. It may also be served to the guests, but it is disapproved for the parents of the baby and their dependents to eat it.

If, due to any reason, �aqīq is not performed on the seventh day after the birth of the child, it may be offered later on, at any time, even by the child itself after attaining puberty.

This rite is not obligatory but recommended, and there are many Traditions which emphasize it.

ua'a 252 According to Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq recite either of the following du'a'a at the time of slaughtering the animal for aqiqah (The ceremony of shaving the hair of an infant on the sixth day after birth)

If the child is a female say words in brackets :

In the name of Allah and by Allah, this aqiqa (sheep slaughtered) is of (mention the name of the child with father’s name); its flesh (instead of) his/her flesh, its blood (instead of) his/her blood, its bones, (instead of) his/her bones (are offered) to You. O Allah, (accept it) as that by which (this child) may be protected and preserved, in the name of the children of Muhammad, blessings of Allah be on him and on his children, and peace.

In the name of Allah, by Allah, praise be to Allah, Allah is the greatest, faith is in Allah, thanks to the messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be on him and on his children) for safeguarding His command, gratitude for His sustenance, and awareness of us Ahl ul Bayt (our merits) by His grace.

Recite the following if the child is male :

O Allah, verily You have given us a son. You alone know what You have given and what has been granted, and (You alone know everything about) whatever You create. So accept (our offering offered) in accordance with Your command and the traditions of Your prophet and messenger (blessings of Allah be on him and on his children), and keep away the accursed Shaytan from us. This blood is pouring out for Your sake only (a.s.) there is no partner to share (it) with You, O my Allah, praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. O my Allah, this meat (instead of) his meat, this blood (instead of) his blood, these bones (instead of) his bones., these hair (instead of) his hair, this skin (instead of) his skin (are offered to You), so O my Allah, accept this (sacrifice) instead of the sacrifice of (mention the name of the child.

BISMILLAAHI WA BILLAAHI ALLAAHUMMA HAAD'IHEE A'QEEQATUN A'N (mention the name of the child with father's name) LAH'MUHAA BILAH'MIHEE (BILAH'MIHAA) WA DAMUHAA BIDAMIHEE (BIDAMIHAA) WA A'Z'MUHAA BI-A'Z'MIHEE (BIA'Z'MIHAA) ALLAAHUMMAJ-A'LHAA WIQAA -AN LAHOO (LAHAA) BI-AALI MUH'AMMADIN S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE WA SALLAM

BISMILLAAHI WA BILLAAHI WALH'AMDU LILLAAHI WALLAAHU AKBAR EEMAANAN BILLAAHI WA THANAA-AN A'LAA RASOOLILLAAHI S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE WAL A'S'MATU LI-AMRIHEE WASH SHUKRU LIRIZQIHEE WAL MA-RIFATU BIFAZ LIHEE A'LAYNAA AHLIL BAYTI

ALLAAHUMMA INNKA WAHABTA LANAA D'AKARAN WA ANTA A'-LAMU BIMAA WAHABTA WA MINKA MAA A'T'AYTA WA KULLAMAA S'ANA -TA FATAQABBAALHU MINAA A'LAA SUNNATIKA WA SUNNATI NABIYYIKA WA RASOOLIKA S'ALLALLAAHU A'LAYHI WA AALIHEE WAKH-SA A'NNASH SHAYT'AANAR RAJEEMA LAKA SAFAKTUD DIMAA-A LAA SHAREEKA LAKA ALLAAHUMMA WAL H'AMDU LILLAAHI RABBIL A'ALAMEEN ALLAAHUMMA LAH'MUHAA BILAH'MIHEE WA DAMUHAA BIDAMIHEE WA A'Z'MUHAA BI-A'Z'MIHEE WA SHA'RUHAA BISHA - RIHEE WA JILDUHAA BIJILDIHEE ALLAAHUMMAJ-A'LHU FIDAA-AN

After the birth of a baby, it is recommended that the adhān Should be recited in its right ear and the iqāma in its left ear. This act should be performed after the child is washed and wrapped in a cloth, or later, within a few days.

It is recommended that the suras al-Hāqqa (sura 69), al-Falaq (sura 113), and an-Nās (sura 114) should be written on a piece of paper and attached around the neck of the baby as an amulet against evil and harm.

CIRCUMCISION

The circumcision (khatn or khitan, or in many Islamic countries simply sunna) of a male child is an obligation on every Muslim before the child reaches puberty. If the parents fail to have this rite performed, it is the duty of every adult uncircumcised Muslim to be circumcised. Those who embrace Islam should also perform this rite if they are not ready circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur�an, but it is much emphasized in the Traditions, and the consensus of the ulema is that it is obligatory on all Muslims.

Circumcision should preferably be performed when the baby is only a few days old, or otherwise at any time before his puberty. In many countries it is normally carried out between the ages of three and seven, but it is recommended to perform this rite on the seventh day after the birth of the child. Facilities for circumcision are normally provided at hospitals.

In this rite also it is recommended to invite guests and family friends and arrange food for the poor. It is also recommended to recite the following prayer at the time of the circumcision:

Allahumma hadhihi sunnatu-ka wa-sunatu nabiy-ka salawatu-ka �alay-hi wa-ali-hi- wa- �ttaba�u mithali-ka wa-kutubi-ka li-mashi� ati-ka wa-iradati-ka wa-qada�I-kal-amrin aradta-hu wa-qada�in hatamta-huwa-hukmin anfadhta-hu fa-�rja�� an-hu hurra l-hadidi fi khitani-hi wa-hajamati-hi l-amrin, anta a�rafu bi-hi min-ni. Allahumma fa-tahhir -hu mina dh-dhunubi wa-zid-ni�umri-hi wa-�dfi �l-afat �an badani-hi wa-l-aqja�a �an jisim-hi wa-zid-hu fi l-ghina wa-�dfa�� an-hu l-faqra fa-inna-ka ta�lamu wa-la na �lam.

O God, this is Your practice and the practice of Your Prophet, Your blessings be upon him and his family; obeying Your ideal and Your Books is the result of Your volition, and Your will and judgement you decreed, a rule You executed. So take away from him the pain of the knife in his circumcision and his scarification through a command � You are more knowing of it than I, O God. And cleanse him of sins, prolong his life for me, drive away injury and pain from his body, increase him in wealth, and fend off poverty from him; for You know and we do not.