Islamic rites at birth

1. At the time of birth, give the azaan in the right ear of the child and iqaamah in the left ear. (Tirmizi). (The texts of azaan and iqaamah are given at the end of this paper).

2. Chew or ask a pious person to chew some pieces of dates and place them on the tongue of the child. Ask duas of barakah for the child. (Muslim). “Allahoumma baarik lahou.”
3. On the seventh day of the birth, it is recommended to offer in aqeeqah sacrifice a goat or a sheep for a girl- child and two goats or sheep for a boy. If the child is born on Friday morning, then the seventh day will be the following Thursday. (Mustadrak Hakim). Otherwise, the subsequent Thursday. A he-goat or a she-goat must be one-year old or more. Whereas a ram or a billy-goat can be accepted for aqeeqah if they are one-year old or have the build of a one-year old animal.

4. The meat of aqeeqah can be consumed by the family offering the sacrifice and can also be distributed to near relatives and the poor.

5. On the seventh day, select a name for the child. Better choose a name which has a correct meaning and can be easily pronounced in its context. (Abu Dawood)

6. On the seventh day, shave the child’s hair and apply zafraan to the shaved head. (Mustadrak)

7. Give in sadaqah the equivalent of the weight of the hair in silver. (Tirmizi). It is more appropriate to give the equivalent in cash to the poor.

8. Circumcision (khatnah) for a boy is compulsory. But it can be performed before he is 7 years old.

AZAAN

(It must be recited in a loud voice with pauses)

اَللهُ اَكْبَرَ اللهُ اَكْبَرْ اَللهُ اَكْبَرَ اللهُ اَكْبَرْ

Allahou Akbar (4 times)
Allah is the greatest. (4 times)

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلهَ اِلاَّ الله اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلهَ اِلاَّ الله

Ash hadou al laa ilaaha illallaahou. (2 times)
I bear witness that none is worthy of worship except Allah. (2 times)

اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ الله اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ الله

Ash hadou anna MouHammadar Rasoolullah. (2 times)
I bear witness that Muhammad (saw) is the messenger of Allah. (2 times)

حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلوة حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلوة

Hayya ‘alas swalaat. (2 times)
Come to parayer. (2 times)

حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحْ حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحْ

Hayya ‘alal falaaH. (2 times)
Come to success. (2 times)

اَللهُ اَكْبَرَ اللهُ اَكْبَرْ

Allahou akbar. (2 times)
Allah is the Greatest. (2 times)

لاَ اِلهَ اِلاَّ الله

Laa ilaaha illallahou.
None is worthy of worship except Allah.

IQAAMAH

(It must be recited in a loud voice without pauses.)

اَللهُ اَكْبَرَ اللهُ اَكْبَرْ اَللهُ اَكْبَرَ اللهُ اَكْبَرْ

Allahou Akbar (4 times)
Allah is the greatest. (4 times)

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلهَ اِلاَّ الله اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لاَّ اِلهَ اِلاَّ الله

Ash hadou al laa ilaaha illallaahou. (2 times)
 I bear witness that none is worthy of worship except Allah. (2 times)

اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ الله اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَّسُوْلُ الله

Ash hadou anna MouHammadar Rasoolullah. (2 times)
I bear witness that Muhammad (saw) is the messenger of Allah. (2 times)

حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلوة حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلوة

Hayya ‘alas swalaat. (2 times)
Come to parayer. (2 times)

حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحْ حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلاَحْ

Hayya ‘alal falaaH. (2 times)
Come to success. (2 times)

قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلوة قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلوة

Qad qaamatis swalaat. (2 times)
Verily, the prayer has begun. (2 times)

اَللهُ اَكْبَرَ اللهُ اَكْبَرْ

Allahou akbar. (2 times)
Allah is the Greatest. (2 times)

لاَ اِلهَ اِلاَّ الله

Laa ilaaha illallahou.
None is worthy of worship except Allah.