30. Sunnats When A Child Is Born:
1. To give azaan in the right ear and iqaamah in the left ear after the child is born.
(Tirmidhi- chapter-- Vol.1, Alaikum Bisunnati, Abu Dawood, pg. 340)
(Tirmidhi- chapter-- Vol.1, Alaikum Bisunnati, Abu Dawood, pg. 340)
2. To give a suitable name to the child on the seventh day. (Abu Dawood)
3. To make aqeeqah on the seventh day. (Abu Dawood) If it cannot be done on the seventh day, it should be done on the fourteenth or the 21st day.
4. The head of the baby should be shaved and silver equal to the weight of the hair should be given in charity. (Tirmidhi)
5. Saffron should be put on the head after it has been shaved. (Abu Dawood)
6. Two male goats should be slaughtered for the aqeeqah of a boy and one male goat or female goat for the aqeeqah of a girl. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood)
7. The meat of aqeeqah can be distributed raw or cooked. (Behishti Zewar - Vol. 3)
8. Anyone may partake of the aqeeqah animal, though they be even one’s family members eg. the grand- parents. (Behishti Zewar - Vol. 3)
9. Dry dates should be given to a pious person to chew and then it should be applied in the mouth of the baby, or the baby should be made to suck it. The pious person should also be requested to make dua. (Bukhari)
10. The child should be taught how to perform Salaah and the other aspects of Deen when he reaches the age of seven years.
11. In order to inculcate the habit of Salaah, the child should be admonished if he is negligent in its performance when he reaches the age of ten years. He should be punished if the need arises. (Mishkaat- Vol.1, pg.58 )
Note: Now-a-days children are being spoilt with love and affection while the parents console themselves by saying that the child will behave when he grows up. One should remember that if the foundation is not straight, the building will also be crooked. Therefore it is necessary to inculcate good character into the child from the very beginning so that one may not regret later.
