Birth Rites

There are several Islamic customs pertaining to the birth of a child in a Muslim family. These traditions are performed on the first day and after 7th day of birth. The father of the child gives Azaan or Muslims call to prayer into the right ear of the newborn while Iqamah in the left ear. It is also Sunnat to rub honey or pulp of a softened date on the baby’s gums. This is called Ghutti. Some rites are performed on or after seventh day of birth. The aqeeqah is a sacrifice made for the newborn child. Two sheep for boy and one sheep for a girl is sacrificed mostly on the 7th day after the birth. The meat is distributed to the relatives, neighbors and poor. After the sacrifice of Aqeeqah, the baby’s head is shaved. The hair is weighed and an equivalent weight in silver is given in charity. Muslim baby boys are circumcised mostly when they are seven days old. It is also traditional to choose a name for the baby till the seventh day.