The moment your baby arrives, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ gives you a beautiful set of actions — simple, intimate, and spiritually weighty. Nothing here is complicated; each practice takes minutes and carries centuries of tradition. This guide walks through the authentic Sunnah in chronological order, from the first minutes to the seventh day, with the hadith sources so you and your family can follow them with confidence.
Minute 1: Adhan in the right ear
As soon as the baby is clean and stable, the Sunnah is to softly recite the adhan in their right ear. Some scholars also recommend the iqamah in the left ear.
Abu Rafi‘ ʬ• narrated: “I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ give the adhan in the ear of al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali when Fatimah gave birth to him.” (Abu Dawud 5105, Tirmidhi 1514.)
The wisdom: the first human sound to enter your baby’s world is the shahadah.
First hours: Tahneek with a date
Tahneek is the practice of softening a date, rubbing it on the roof of the baby’s mouth, and making dua for them. It is derived from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ himself.
Abu Musa ʬ• said: “A son was born to me and I brought him to the Prophet ﷺ. He named him Ibrahim, did tahneek for him with a date, made dua of barakah for him, and handed him back to me.” (Bukhari 5467.)
How to do it: Chew or press a soft Medjool date until sticky. Place a tiny smear on your clean finger and rub gently on the inside of the baby’s upper gum. A righteous relative (ideally the grandparent or scholar) may be asked to perform it.
First week: Physical care advice
None of the Sunnah acts replace basic newborn medical care. Vitamin K injection, breastfeeding establishment, skin-to-skin contact, safe sleep on the back — all of these are standard obstetric care and are fully compatible with Islamic practice.
Day 7: Naming the baby
The Sunnah is to give the baby their name on the 7th day (counting day of birth as day one). Good names — especially those praising Allah (‘Abdullah, ‘Abdur-Rahman) or of the prophets and righteous predecessors — are preferred.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “You will be called on the Day of Judgment by your names and your fathers’ names, so make your names good.” (Abu Dawud 4948.)
Our complete lists: 100 Muslim baby boy names and 150 Muslim baby girl names.
Day 7: Shaving the head & silver sadaqah
The baby’s head is shaved on the 7th day, and the weight of the hair in silver is given as sadaqah. In practice, many families simply weigh the hair (a few grams) and donate the silver equivalent in currency to a reputable charity.
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib ʬ• narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did the aqiqah for al-Hasan with one sheep, and said: ‘O Fatimah, shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver as sadaqah.’” (Tirmidhi 1519.)
Day 7: Aqiqah
Two sheep for a boy, one for a girl, split in thirds between family, friends, and the poor. See our full aqiqah guide for the rulings.
Day 7–onwards: Circumcision (for boys)
Khitan (circumcision) is an established Sunnah for boys. The majority view is that it is obligatory (Shafi‘i, Hanbali) or strongly recommended (Hanafi, Maliki). The most common times are the 7th day or later in infancy, based on parental and medical preference. Use a qualified paediatric specialist.
Ongoing: Dua over your child
The Prophet ﷺ would recite this dua over al-Hasan and al-Husayn:
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
U‘eedhukuma bi-kalimatillahi t-tammah min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli ‘aynin lammah.
“I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and crawling creature, and from every evil eye.” (Bukhari 3371.)
What is NOT from the Sunnah (common misconceptions)
- Putting kohl on the baby’s eyes as a religious obligation — it is not.
- Tying iron or charm threads — this is shirk-adjacent and rejected in authentic tradition.
- Delaying the adhan until a scholar can visit — any Muslim family member may recite it.
Related guides
For any madhhab-specific detail, consult a scholar you trust. Download Sakina for a built-in newborn Sunnah checklist covering your baby’s first 40 days.