Adhān, Iqāmah in the Newborn’s Ear, and Charity Equal to Hair Weight in Silver — Shar‘i Ruling
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il – Discussion on Ṣalāh, Volume 1, Page 121
❖ Question
What is the Shar‘i position regarding:
- Saying Adhān in the ear of a newborn?
- Saying Iqāmah in the other ear?
- Giving charity equal to the weight of the newborn’s hair in silver?
Please provide authentic ḥadīths.
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
◈ Adhān in the Ear of a Newborn
This is established in Sharīʿah.
From Abū Rāfiʿ (RA):
"I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when Fāṭimah (RA) gave birth to al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī (RA), he gave Adhān in his ear like the Adhān of prayer."
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Abwāb al-Aḍāḥī, Bāb al-Adhān fī Udhun al-Mawlūd, Vol. 1 — Imām al-Tirmidhī graded it ṣaḥīḥ)
◈ Iqāmah in the Other Ear
- Saying Iqāmah in the newborn’s other (left) ear is not established from any authentic ḥadīth.
- Therefore, this practice cannot be declared obligatory or Sunnah.
◈ Charity Equal to the Weight of the Newborn’s Hair in Silver
This act is established from ḥadīth after shaving the newborn’s hair (with ʿAqīqah).
- Reference: Tanqīḥ al-Ruwāt, Sharḥ Mishkāt, Vol. 3, p. 203
- Reference: Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī, Abwāb al-Aḍāḥī, Vol. 5, p. 93
Thus, it is Sunnah to shave the newborn’s head and give in charity the equivalent weight of the hair in silver.
◈ For Further Study
For more details and evidences, see Risālah Thalāth Shaʿāʾir by Dr. ʿUmar Sulaymān.
Summary:- Adhān in the right ear of the newborn is authentic and Sunnah.
- Iqāmah in the left ear has no authentic basis.
- Charity equal to the weight of the newborn’s shaved hair in silver is established.
"ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب"
