Giving a Sweet Ghuttī (Chewed Date) to a Newborn in the Light of Authentic Aḥādīth❖ Adapted from the book “Wālidayn aur Aulād ke Ḥuqūq” by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōtī
✿ The Sunnah of – Chewing a Sweet (Especially a Date) and Placing It in the Newborn’s Mouth
➊ Barakah and Ghuttī by the Prophet ﷺ
Narrator: Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
Arabic Text:
عن عائشة أن رسول الله كان يؤتى بالصبيان فيبرك عليهم ويحبكهم
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim – Kitāb al-Ādāb – Bāb Istiḥbāb Taḥnīk al-Mawlūd: 5619]
Translation:
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrates: “Children used to be brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He would pray for blessings upon them and give them ghuttī (taḥnīk).”
➋ The First Thing in the Child's Stomach Was the Prophet’s Saliva and a Chewed Date
Narrator: Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها
Arabic Text:
فأتيت المدينة فنزلت بقباء فولدته بقباء ثم أتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فوضعه فى حجره ثم دعا بتمرة فمضعها ثم تفل فى فيه فكان أول شيء دخل جوفه ريق رسول الله ثم حنكه بالتمرة ثم دعا له وبرك عليه
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 5617]
Translation:
Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها said:
“I arrived in Madinah and stayed in Qubā’, where I gave birth. I then brought the child to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who placed him in his lap. He called for a date, chewed it, then placed his blessed saliva into the child’s mouth. The first thing to enter the child’s stomach was the saliva of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then he gave him ghuttī with the date, supplicated for him, and invoked blessings upon him.”
➌ Naming the Child and Giving Ghuttī
Narrator: Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه
Arabic Text:
عن أبى موسى قال: ولد لى غلام فأتيت به النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فسماه إبراهيم فحنكه بتمرة ودعا له بالبركة.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5467 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 5615]
Translation:
Abū Mūsā رضي الله عنه said:
“A son was born to me. I brought him to the Prophet ﷺ, who named him Ibrāhīm, gave him ghuttī with a date, and prayed for blessings for him.”
➍ Abdullāh ibn Abū Ṭalḥah Given Ghuttī and Named by the Prophet ﷺ
Narrator: Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه
Arabic Text:
قال لي أبو طلحة احفظه حتى تأتي به النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ... فأخذها النبى فمضعها ثم أخذ من فيه فجعلها فى في الصبي وحنكه به وسماه عبد الله
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5470]
Translation:
Anas رضي الله عنه said:
“Abū Ṭalḥah said to me, ‘Take care of the child and bring him to the Prophet ﷺ.’ When I brought the child, some dates were also sent. The Prophet ﷺ took a date, chewed it, placed it in the child’s mouth, gave him ghuttī with it, and named him ʿAbdullāh.”
Important Note:
✦ Giving ghuttī (taḥnīk) with a date is preferred.
✦ If a date is not available, it is permissible to use another sweet substance.
✦ This practice is a Sunnah and a source of barakah (blessing) for the child.
