Sunnah acts for a new born child.
Q. I am about to become a father through the mercy of Allah. What I want to know is what are the acts that I should be doing before the child is born and after the child is born? I am asking specifically about aqeeqa, shaving of the head, duas, naming of the child, etc. I am getting so much confusing information as to what to do and not to do such as reciting surah Yusuf everyday and as soon as the child is born to put dates in its mouth etc. Can you please tell me what are the Sunnah acts to do?
A. At present, there is nothing that you are required to do if the child has not been born as yet.
When the child is born, it is evident from the sunnah that you should call the Azan in the right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear.
It is also evident in the sunnah to do ‘Tahneek’. This is the act of letting a pious person chew a piece of date and then place it in the mouth of the child.
The sunnah also tells us that on the seventh day the head should be shaved, a good name should be given to the child and an animal/ animals be sacrificed on behalf of the child. In case of a boy two goats/ sheep would be sacrificed and in case of a girl one goat/ sheep should be sacrificed.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan