Q: When a baby is born to us, what are the mustahabb and obligatory acts to do?
I heard that one would say adhan in his / her right ear, etc. Would you explain
that in detail?
A: There are certain manners and etiquettes to be adopted at the birth some of
which are obligatory and others are mustahabb.
The obligatory one is circumcision for a male baby which is recommended to be
done on the 7th day. There are many mustahabb and here are some of them:
1- Bathing the baby at birth provided it is not harmful.
2- Saying adhan in his / her right ear and iqamah in the left one.
3- Smearing the baby’s palate with water from the Euphrates river and soil from
the shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s.).
4- Naming the baby a good name and it is preferable to give him the names of the
Prophets (pbuh&hh), their executors and those names that indicate servitude to
Allah.
5- Arranging for a banquet (walimah) upon birth.
6- Slaughtering an ‘aqiqah animal which is recommended to be on the seventh day.
7- It is mustahabb to shave baby’s head from the seventh day on and giving gold
or silver, that equals the shaved hair in weight, in charity.