Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Aleykum, Could you please give some guidance on the naming of a child. Does the ceremony of "Chathi" i.e naming of the child on the sixth day after birth have any Islamic basis? How is the child to be named and by whom? Why is the Adhan and Iqamat recited in the ears of the newly born child? Thank you

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Answer:

Naming Ceremony

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: Could you please give some guidance on the naming of a child.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) recommended that the believers give the adhaan (call to prayer) in both the ears of the new born.

It is also the Sunnah, that on the 7^th day:

Appoint a good name to the new born.

Shave the head of the new born, and give the equivalent weight of the shaved hair in silver as sadaqa (charity).

Do the ‘aqiqa’(sacrifice one animal for a female born, or two animals for a male born).

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that it is the right of the new-born upon their parents, that they appoint a good name for him/her. He (saws) also said that the best names in the sight of Allah are: Abdur-Rahmaan and Abdullah.

Other good names could be anything which personifies being the slave of Allah by using any of the hundred names of Allah: like Abdus-Shukoor, Abdur-Razzak, Abdul-Hameed, Abdul-Aziz, etc.

Then there are the names of any of the Prophets of Allah; like Mohamed, Adam, Noah, Ibrahim, Ishaaq, Ismael, Musa, Isa, etc.

Then there the names of any of the noble companions of the Last Messenger of Allah (saws); like Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Ali, Salmaan, Ammar, Abbas, Saad, Muaadh, Khalid, Hasan, Hussain, etc.

For a female, one can use the names of any of the wives or mothers or daughters of the Prophets; like Sarah, Hajrah, Maryam, Aisha, Fatemah, Zainab, Safeeyah, Hafsah, etc.

Your question: Does the ceremony of "Chathi" i.e naming of the child on the sixth day after birth have any Islamic basis?

The Gujrati term ‘Chatthi’ basically means the ‘sixth day’…. And this term or rasm has absolutely no basis or relation to Islam. On the contrary, the ‘Chatthi’ rasm is more prevalent in the pagan cultures of Hinduism!

The Messenger of Allah (saws) has advised the believers to name their children on the seventh day after the birth of the child.

Your question: How is the child to be named and by whom?

As described in the first answer, on the seventh day it is Sunnah to do the ‘aqiqa’, shave the hair of the new born and appoint a good name for the new born.

The parents have the biggest right over their children, and it would be best if they name the child. There is no harm if the parents wish to honor a close friend or a relative to name their child.

Your question: Why is the Adhan and Iqamat recited in the ears of the newly born child?

It is Sunnah to declare the adhaan in both the ears of the new-born child as soon as possible after its birth. The wisdom behind this act is that the first words the new arrival to the world hears, are the words of Tauheed and the Oneness of his Lord and Creator, Allah Subhanah, and the declaration or testification of the faith of Islam, that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah Alone, and that Mohamed (saws) is the Messenger of Allah!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan