✿ Birth of a Child: Saying Adhan and Iqamah in the Baby's Ear ✿
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The practice of saying Iqamah in the ear of a newborn is not authentically established, as the narration mentioning it is not a reliable proof. The narration reported from Ḥaḍrat Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه states that the Prophet ﷺ said:
من ولد له ولد فأذن فى أذنه اليمنى وأقام فى أذنه اليسرى لم تضره ام الصبيان
[Fabricated: al-Ḍaʿīfah 1/320, 2321; Irwā’ al-Ghalīl 1174; Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 4/149; Shuʿab al-Īmān by al-Bayhaqī 8620]
“When a child is born to someone, and he gives Adhan in the right ear and Iqamah in the left, he will not be harmed by the disease of Um al-Ṣibyān.”
This narration is not ḥujjah (authoritative), and likewise, the narration attributed to ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz رحمه الله on this matter is also not reliable.
[Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 4/273]
As for the narration concerning giving Adhan in the newborn's ear, it is also weak, due to the dispute over the reliability of the narrator ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUbaydillāh.
[Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb 5/46, Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb 1/384, Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl 2/353]
However, based on supporting evidences, this Hadith reaches the level of ḥasan (acceptable).
It is narrated from Ḥaḍrat Abū Rāfiʿ رضي الله عنه that:
أذن فى أذن الحسن بن على حين ولدته فاطمة بالصلاة
[Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī 1224, Book of Sacrifices: Chapter on Adhan in the Newborn’s Ear; Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 4258; Irwā’ al-Ghalīl 1173; Tirmidhī 1516; Abū Dāwūd 5105; Aḥmad 6/391-9]
"When Fāṭimah رضي الله عنها gave birth to Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said the Adhan (like the Adhan of prayer) in his ear."
According to ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Mubārakpūrī رحمه الله, this Hadith is weak, but it becomes strengthened and firm due to the narration from Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, which was transmitted by Imām Abū Yaʿlā al-Mawṣilī and Imām Ibn al-Sunnī.
[Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī 1/91]
According to Imām al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله, the Hadith is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ, and this is the practiced opinion.
[Tirmidhī 1516]
The consistent and inherited practice of the Ummah also makes this Hadith acceptable as proof.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله has also transmitted the narration of Ḥaḍrat Abū Rāfiʿ رضي الله عنه in his book Zād al-Maʿād.
[Zād al-Maʿād 2/333]
It should be noted that there is no specific time designated for giving this Adhan. Whenever a Muslim is able to do so, he may give the Adhan.
[Aḥsan al-Fatāwā 2/276]
Note: The issue of the two Adhans for Jumuʿah will be discussed in detail in the chapter "Bāb Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah".
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Saying Adhan and Iqamah at the Time of Birth
The practice of saying Iqamah in the ear of a newborn is not authentically established, as the narration mentioning it is not a reliable proof. The narration reported from Ḥaḍrat Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه states that the Prophet ﷺ said:
من ولد له ولد فأذن فى أذنه اليمنى وأقام فى أذنه اليسرى لم تضره ام الصبيان
[Fabricated: al-Ḍaʿīfah 1/320, 2321; Irwā’ al-Ghalīl 1174; Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 4/149; Shuʿab al-Īmān by al-Bayhaqī 8620]
“When a child is born to someone, and he gives Adhan in the right ear and Iqamah in the left, he will not be harmed by the disease of Um al-Ṣibyān.”
This narration is not ḥujjah (authoritative), and likewise, the narration attributed to ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz رحمه الله on this matter is also not reliable.
[Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 4/273]
❖ Status of the Adhan Narration
As for the narration concerning giving Adhan in the newborn's ear, it is also weak, due to the dispute over the reliability of the narrator ʿĀṣim ibn ʿUbaydillāh.
[Tahdhīb al-Tahdhīb 5/46, Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb 1/384, Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl 2/353]
However, based on supporting evidences, this Hadith reaches the level of ḥasan (acceptable).
It is narrated from Ḥaḍrat Abū Rāfiʿ رضي الله عنه that:
أذن فى أذن الحسن بن على حين ولدته فاطمة بالصلاة
[Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī 1224, Book of Sacrifices: Chapter on Adhan in the Newborn’s Ear; Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 4258; Irwā’ al-Ghalīl 1173; Tirmidhī 1516; Abū Dāwūd 5105; Aḥmad 6/391-9]
"When Fāṭimah رضي الله عنها gave birth to Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said the Adhan (like the Adhan of prayer) in his ear."
According to ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Mubārakpūrī رحمه الله, this Hadith is weak, but it becomes strengthened and firm due to the narration from Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, which was transmitted by Imām Abū Yaʿlā al-Mawṣilī and Imām Ibn al-Sunnī.
[Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī 1/91]
According to Imām al-Tirmidhī رحمه الله, the Hadith is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ, and this is the practiced opinion.
[Tirmidhī 1516]
❖ Continuous Practice of the Ummah
The consistent and inherited practice of the Ummah also makes this Hadith acceptable as proof.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله has also transmitted the narration of Ḥaḍrat Abū Rāfiʿ رضي الله عنه in his book Zād al-Maʿād.
[Zād al-Maʿād 2/333]
❖ No Fixed Time for This Adhan
It should be noted that there is no specific time designated for giving this Adhan. Whenever a Muslim is able to do so, he may give the Adhan.
[Aḥsan al-Fatāwā 2/276]
Note: The issue of the two Adhans for Jumuʿah will be discussed in detail in the chapter "Bāb Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah".
