Islamic Rulings for New Born Babies >> 1. Pre-conception

Islamic Rulings for New Born Babies

1. Pre-conception

Marriage has been ordained in Islam for the purpose of procreation, bringing into this world children who will worship and obey Allah.

The couple should invoke Allah’s blessings and protection for themselves and future offspring at the time of marriage:

Abdullah bin Amr (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

“When one of you marries a woman, he should put his hand on her forehead, invoke Allah’s blessing and say,

Bismillah, Allahumma baarik li feeha. Allahumma inni as’aluka min khayriha wa-khayri ma jabaltaha alayhi, wa’a’oothu bika min sharriha wa-sharri maa jabaltaha alayh.’

(With Allah’s name, O Allah, bless her for me. O Allah, I ask You to grant me of her good, and the good upon which You created her, and I ask You to protect me from her evil and any evil upon which You created her.)” [1]

The couple should also supplicate to Allah to keep Satan away from future children:

Ibn Abbas (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah said,

“When one of you wants to approach his wife with intercourse he should say,

Bismillah, Allahumma jannib-nash Shaytaan wa-jannibish Shaytaana ma razaqtanaa.

(O Allah keep Satan away from us and from what you grant us.)

If it is decreed that they have a child from that intercourse Satan will never harm it.” [2]

Children are a great favour from Allah and it is the parents’ responsibility to raise them according to Islam, and to increase the number of Muslims:

Aishah (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah said,

“Marriage is a Sunnah (way) of mine, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah is not of my followers. Get married because I will display your outnumbering of other nations on the Day of Resurrection.” [3]

It is therefore important to choose a righteous spouse who will be a good Muslim parent and raise the family on Islam:

Aishah (RA) reported that the Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said,

“Make a good choice for your sperm (i.e. offspring): marry worthy women and marry your daughters to worthy men.” [4]

Muslim parents are greatly rewarded for their patience and submissiveness if they lose a child:

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said regarding children who died,

“Their young ones who die are the free roamers of Jannah. When one of them meets its parent, it holds onto the edge of his (or her) garment like I hold your garment, and does not desist until Allah admits it with its parent to Jannah.” [5]

Children are also a source of good deeds for parents after their death:

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

“When a human being dies, his good deeds come to an end, except for three things: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous child supplicating for him”. [6]


References

[1] A combined report by al-Bukhari, Ibn Abi Shaybah and others.

[2] Recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim and others.

[3] Recorded by Ibn Majah.  Verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 2283).

[4] Ibn Majah, al-Hakim and others.  Vefified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih ul-Jami’ no. 2928 and as-Sahihah no 1067).

[5] Recorded by Muslim and Ahmad.

[6] Recorded by Muslim.