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:

Dear Brother Burhan,

Assalamualaikum!

Alhamdulillah, I`m married and now my wife is concieving for 2 months. My query is: I`ve heard that, there are people (those kind who practice and believe in taawiz etc.) who say that "A woman should or her parents/husband should recite "Surah Yusuf" for beautiful "Aulaad" and "Surah Maryam" for ease in delivery of the baby during the entire 9 months. As I know and believe, there is no such hadith or reference in Quraan which qualifies/endorses this belief. Pl help me and reply by providing concrete proof incase these things are true. And also, is there any authentic "Duaa" which my wife should/may recite during her pregnancy until she delivers?

Your early reply will help me save my family from bidaat and would also save others.

JazakAllah!

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Answer:

Recite Surah Maryam/Yusuf during pregnancy

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

My query is: I`ve heard that, there are people (those kind who practice and believe in taawiz etc.)

An amulet (tamimah, taaweedkh, etc.) is a string of shells or beads that the Arabs used to put around their children's necks, believing that it would protect them from the evil eye.  Islam absolutely abolished this and all other superstitious practices.   The Messenger of Allah (saws) called it a manifest form of ‘shirk’ and invoked the curse of Allah upon those who wore a ‘taaweedh’ seeking its protection.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) strictly forbade the believers to wear any sort of ‘taaweedh’ or amulet on any part of their body.   Anyone who does wear a ‘taaweedh’ or an amulet, starts seeking his trust and help from this ‘taaweedh’,  rather than putting his full life and trust in the Lord of the Worlds!  

Guidance is to worship, invoke, believe and keep one’s full and unconditional trust in none but Allah Subhanah, the Lord of the Heavens and the earth and all that exists in between!

If a believer,  who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day,  seeks any protection for anything in life,  all he has to do is seek refuge in Allah and supplicate Him for all His needs.   For Allah Alone is the Owner of All Strength and Power;  and no harm or no trouble can come to anyone without the permission of Allah Subhanah.   Therefore,  a believer must put his full and unconditional Trust in none but Allah Subhanah Alone.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 160:

If Allah helps you none can overcome you: if He forsakes you who is there after that that can help you?  In Allah then let believers put their trust.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 3:

And put your trust in Allah Alone;  and enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 51:

Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us:  He is our Protector";  and on Allah let the believers put their trust.

Uqbah ibn 'Amir narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "If anyone wears an amulet (taaweedh),  may Allah not help him in fulfilling his wish.   If anyone wears a sea-shell around his neck, may Allah give him no peace."

Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakim.

It is reported from Ibn Mas'ud that once, when he entered his home, he noticed his wife wearing a knotted object round her neck.   He took it away and broke it.   Then he remarked: 'The family of Abdullah has become so arrogant that they now associate with Allah those for whom He has sent down no authority.'   I have heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying:'Verily, incantations, amulets, and love charms are acts of shirk (associating gods with Allah).'   The people said: 'O Abu Abdullah!  We are familiar with incantations and amulets, but what is a love charm (altawlah)'?'  He replied: 'It is a sort of magical formula by which women sought to gain their husbands' love'." (Related by Al-Hakim and Ibn Hibban).

Imran ibn Hasin reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) saw a man wearing a bracelet of copper on his arm.   The Prophet (saws) exclaimed to him: 'Woe be to you!'   What is this? '  The man replied: 'I am suffering from weakness (al-wahinah).' (Al-wahinah is a disease that causes pain in the shoulders and hands. The man was wearing a copper bracelet believing it would relieve his pain and suffering).  The Prophet (saws) prohibited him from wearing it because he regarded it as an amulet.   The Prophet (saws)  said:  'It will give you nothing but pain.  Throw it away.  Had you died while wearing it, you would never have achieved salvation! (ie. you would have died in the state of the unforgivable sin of ‘shirk’'" (Narrated by Ahmad)

Isa ibn Hamza said:  I went to see Abdullah ibn Hakim and his face was red due to high fever.  I said to him:  'Why don't you use an amulet?'   He said: 'We seek refuge with Allah from it.   The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Whoever wears anything as an amulet will be entrusted to it".  (Narrated by Abu Daw'ud)

who say that "A woman should or her parents/husband should recite "Surah Yusuf" for beautiful "Aulaad" and "Surah Maryam" for ease in delivery of the baby during the entire 9 months.

Recite Surah Yusuf during Pregnancy:

As I know and believe, there is no such hadith or reference in Quraan which qualifies/endorses this belief. Pl help me and reply by providing concrete proof incase these things are true. And also, is there any authentic "Duaa" which my wife should/may recite during her pregnancy until she delivers?

You are absolutely right brother and we hereby confirm to the best of our knowledge that we also have not come across anything in the Glorious Quran or the authentic and established Sunnah which declares that the recitation of the blessed Surah Yusuf by the expecting mother would result in making the child any more beautiful than what Allah Subhanah has already Decreed for the unborn child!

And there is absolutely nothing in the Glorious Quran or the Sunnah which suggests that the recitation of the blessed Surah Maryam by the expectant mother would soothe the pains of pregnancy, or beget a normal delivery, etc. 

In conculsion, These are self-invented notions of the ignorant and should neither be believed nor practiced by the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.

The expecting parents are obviously at liberty to beseech whatever good they wish and please from their Lord Most Gracious. They should remain grateful unto their Lord Most Merciful for His innumerable favors and beseech Him with humility and sincerity to bestow good upon them and their off-spring in this world and especially the Hereafter.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:

And if  My servants ask you,  O Prophet, concerning Me,  tell them that I am quite near to them.   I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant,  when he calls on Me.  So let them respond to My call and believe in Me.  (Convey this to them),  perhaps they may be guided aright!

Nu'man b. Bashir reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Verily supplication is worship."

Narrated by Ahmad and Sunan.

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, "Nothing is more dear to Allah than one's supplication to Him.'' 

Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

There is absolutely no harm if one were to recite the below supplications of the Noble Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) when seeking an off-spring from their Lord Most Gracious.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqaan verse 74:

74      And those who pray "Our Lord! Grant unto us ‘azwaaj’ (spouses) and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah Saafaat verse 100:

100    (And Ibraheem (a.s.) prayed): "O my Lord! Grant me an (off-spring) from amongst the righteous.”

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

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