Children & Parenting

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ قَدِ انْقَرَضُوا وَ لَيْسَ لِي وَلَدٌ قَالَ ادْعُ وَ أَنْتَ سَاجِدٌ- رَبِّ هَبْ‌ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا يَرِثُنِي‌ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعاءِ رَبِّ لا تَذَرْنِي فَرْداً وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوارِثِينَ‌ قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ فَوُلِدَ لِي عَلِيٌّ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I belong to a family that is extinct and I do not have any children. He (the Imam) said, ‘Pray when you are in Sajdah (prostration), ‘[My Lord, grant me from Your dominion an heir who will inherit me]. O Lord, grant me fine offspring from Your dominion; You hear the prayers.

مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُحْبَلَ لَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْجُمُعَةِ يُطِيلُ فِيهِمَا الرُّكُوعَ وَ السُّجُودَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِمَا سَأَلَكَ بِهِ زَكَرِيَّا يَا رَبِّ لا تَذَرْنِي فَرْداً وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوارِثِينَ‌ اللَّهُمَ‌ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعاءِ اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ اسْتَحْلَلْتُهَا وَ فِي أَمَانَتِكَ أَخَذْتُهَا فَإِنْ قَضَيْتَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who wishes for pregnancy should perform two Rak’at Salat (prayer) after Friday Salat (prayer) with long Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) and Sajdah (prostration): then say, “O Lord, I ask and appeal before You as Zakariya had done. O Lord, do not leave me alone by myself -You ar

شَكَا الْأَبْرَشُ الْكَلْبِيُّ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّهُ لَا يُولَدُ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِّمْنِي شَيْئاً قَالَ اسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ أَوْ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ‌ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كانَ غَفَّاراً إِلَى قَوْلِهِ- وَ يُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوالٍ وَ بَنِينَ‌[1].

‘I ask forgiveness from Allah, my Lord and return to Him in repentance’ one hundred times every day and every night, because Allah says, ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; He is forgiving. ... He helps you by means of your wealth and sons.’” (71:10)

أَنَّهُ وَفَدَ إِلَى هِشَامِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ فَأَبْطَأَ عَلَيْهِ الْإِذْنُ حَتَّى اغْتَمَّ وَ كَانَ لَهُ حَاجِبٌ كَثِيرُ الدُّنْيَا وَ لَا يُولَدُ لَهُ فَدَنَا مِنْهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تُوصِلَنِي إِلَى هِشَامٍ وَ أُعَلِّمَكَ دُعَاءً[3] يُولَدُ لَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَأَوْصَلَهُ إِلَى هِشَامٍ وَ قَضَى لَهُ جَمِيعَ حَوَائِجِهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَهُ الْحَاجِبُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الد

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once I wanted to visit Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik but permission for a meeting was delayed and I felt worried.’ He ‘Abd al-Malik had a guard who was wealthy but had no children. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), asked him, ‘If you can arrange a meeting with Hisham I will teach you a prayer and you will ha

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يُولَدُ لِي فَقَالَ اسْتَغْفِرْ رَبَّكَ فِي السَّحَرِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ فَإِنْ نَسِيتَهُ فَاقْضِهِ.

‘I ask forgiveness from Allah, my Lord and return to Him in repentance’ one hundred times just before it is dawn. If you forget; do its Qada’ (compensatory prayer for it ).’”

لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا جَامَعْتَ فَقُلِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ إِنْ رَزَقْتَنِي ذَكَراً سَمَّيْتُهُ مُحَمَّداً قَالَ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَرُزِقَ.

‘When going to bed with your wife say, ‘O Lord, if You grant me a son I will name him Muhammad.’ He (the narrator) has said that he followed the instruction, then a son was born to him.’”

أَتَتْ عَلَيَّ سِتُّونَ سَنَةً لَا يُولَدُ لِي فَحَجَجْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي أَ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ لَكَ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ إِذَا قَدِمْتَ الْعِرَاقَ فَتَزَوَّجِ امْرَأَةً وَ لَا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ سَوْءَاءَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا السَّوْءَاءُ قَالَ امْرَأَةٌ فِيهَا قُبْحٌ فَإِنَّهُنَّ أَكْثَرُ أَوْلَاداً وَ ادْعُ بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو- أَنْ يَرْزُقَ

“I was sixty years old and had no children. I went to perform al-Hajj then visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and complained about not having any child. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Has any child ever been born to you?’ I replied, ‘No, it has not happened.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When you go to Iraq marry a woman and it does not ma

فَفَعَلْتُ فَأَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنِّي سُقْمِي وَ كَثُرَ وُلْدِي قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَاشِدٍ وَ كُنْتُ دَائِمَ الْعِلَّةِ مَا أَنْفَكُّ مِنْهَا فِي نَفْسِي وَ جَمَاعَةِ خَدَمِي وَ عِيَالِي حَتَّى إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَبْقَى وَحْدِي وَ مَا لِي أَحَدٌ يَخْدُمُنِي فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ هِشَامٍ عَمِلْتُ بِهِ فَأَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنِّي وَ عَنْ عِيَالِيَ الْعِلَلَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ.

“Hisham ibn Ibrahim narrated to me that he complained before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about not having a child. He (the Imam) commanded him to raise his voice with Adhan in his house. He has said, ‘I followed the instruction: then Allah removed my shortcoming and my children became many.’ Muhammad ibn Rashid has said, ’I

قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ بِالرَّبَذَةِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَمْ أُرْزَقْ وَلَداً فَقَالَ لَهُ إِذَا رَجَعْتَ إِلَى بِلَادِكَ وَ أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ أَهْلَكَ فَاقْرَأْ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ ذَلِكَ- وَ ذَا النُّونِ إِذْ ذَهَبَ مُغاضِباً فَظَنَّ أَنْ لَنْ نَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنادى‌ فِي الظُّلُماتِ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ‌[1] إِلَى ثَلَاثِ آيَاتٍ فَإِنَّكَ سَتُرْزَق

I have not been granted any children.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When you return to your country and then decide to go to bed with your wife then read, ‘When the companion of fish went away in anger he thought that We will not apply any measures against him. He then in the dark called, “I testify that no one other than You

لَمْ يُولَدْ لِي شَيْ‌ءٌ قَطُّ وَ خَرَجْتُ إِلَى مَكَّةَ وَ مَا لِي وَلَدٌ فَلَقِيَنِي إِنْسَانٌ فَبَشَّرَنِي بِغُلَامٍ فَمَضَيْتُ وَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ لِي كَيْفَ أَنْتَ وَ كَيْفَ وَلَدُكَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ خَرَجْتُ وَ مَا لِي وَلَدٌ فَلَقِيَنِي جَارٌ لِي فَقَالَ لِي قَدْ وُلِدَ لَكَ غُلَامٌ فَتَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَمَّيْتَهُ قُلْتُ لَا قَال

“I never had a child . I went to Makkah and did not have any children. A man met me and gave good news of the birth of a boy to me. I then went on and visited Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). When I went before him (the Imam), he (the Imam) asked, ‘How are you and how is your son?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in

إِذَا أَرَدْتَ الْوَلَدَ فَقُلْ عِنْدَ الْجِمَاعِ- اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي وَلَداً وَ اجْعَلْهُ تَقِيّاً لَيْسَ فِي خَلْقِهِ زِيَادَةٌ وَ لَا نُقْصَانٌ وَ اجْعَلْ عَاقِبَتَهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When you want to have a son then at the time of your going to bed with your wife say, “O Lord, grant me a son, make him pious, without any deficiency or extra in his physical condition and make his consequences in goodness.’”

إِذَا كَانَ بِامْرَأَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ حَبَلٌ فَأَتَى عَلَيْهَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ[1] فَلْيَسْتَقْبِلْ بِهَا الْقِبْلَةَ وَ لْيَقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ لْيَضْرِبْ عَلَى جَنْبِهَا وَ لْيَقُلِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ سَمَّيْتُهُ مُحَمَّداً فَإِنَّهُ يَجْعَلُهُ غُلَاماً فَإِنْ وَفَى بِالاسْمِ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فِيهِ وَ إِنْ رَجَعَ عَنِ الِاسْمِ كَانَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ الْخِيَارُ إِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the wife of one you is pregnant, during the fourth month ask her to face al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) and read verse 255 of Chapter two, then tap on her side and say, ‘O Lord, I have named him Muhammad.’ Allah will make him a boy. If he keeps the name as he had promised Allah grants him b

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ ابْنُ غَيْلَانَ الْمَدَائِنِيُّ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ غَيْلَانَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ حَمْلٌ فَنَوَى أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ مُحَمَّداً وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ حَمْلٌ فَنَوَى أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ عَلِيّاً وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلِيٌّ شَيْئاً وَاحِداً[3] قَالَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِن

“Once ibn Ghaylan al-Mada’iniy and I visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and ibn Ghaylan said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, I have been informed that if one’s wife is pregnant and he keeps his intention to name him Muhammad a son then is born to him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one’s wife is pr

مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يُحْمَلُ لَهُ حَمْلٌ‌[4] فَيَنْوِي أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ مُحَمَّداً إِلَّا كَانَ ذَكَراً إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ قَالَ هَاهُنَا ثَلَاثَةٌ كُلُّهُمْ مُحَمَّدٌ مُحَمَّدٌ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ يَأْخُذُ بِيَدِهَا وَ يَسْتَقْبِلُ بِهَا الْقِبْلَةَ عِنْدَ الْأَرْبَعَةِ الْأَشْهُرِ وَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي‌ سَمَّيْتُهُ مُحَمَّداً وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ وَ إِنْ حَوَّلَ اس

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Anyone whose wife is pregnant and he keeps in his intention to name him Muhammad, the child will be a boy by the will of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There are three and all of them are Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in another Hadith has said, ‘He should hold h

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ حَمْلٌ فَنَوَى أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ- مُحَمَّداً أَوْ عَلِيّاً وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If one’s wife is pregnant and he keeps in his intention to name him Muhammad or Ali, a boy will be born to him.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- مُخَلَّقَةٍ وَ غَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ[1] فَقَالَ الْمُخَلَّقَةُ هُمُ الذَّرُّ الَّذِينَ خَلَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي صُلْبِ آدَمَ ع أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ ثُمَّ أَجْرَاهُمْ فِي أَصْلَابِ الرِّجَالِ وَ أَرْحَامِ النِّسَاءِ وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَخْرُجُونَ إِلَى الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يُسْأَلُوا عَنِ الْمِيثَاقِ وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ‌ وَ غَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ فَهُمْ كُلُّ نَ

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . . created and not created . . (22:5) He (the Imam) said, ‘Created are those whom Allah created in the back of Adam (a.s.). He made them to promise and make a covenant. Then He allowed them to move through the backs of men and wom

الْغَيْضُ كُلُّ حَمْلٍ دُونَ تِسْعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ وَ مَا تَزْدَادُ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَزْدَادُ عَلَى تِسْعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ فَكُلَّمَا رَأَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ الدَّمَ الْخَالِصَ فِي حَمْلِهَا فَإِنَّهَا تَزْدَادُ بِعَدَدِ الْأَيَّامِ الَّتِي رَأَتْ فِي حَمْلِهَا مِنَ الدَّمِ.

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘He knows what every female bears and what the wombs decrease (spoil) and what they increase (dispose).’ (13:8) He (the Imam) said, ‘Decrease’ is every pregnancy before nine mont

قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ النُّطْفَةَ تَكُونُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ عَلَقَةً أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ مُضْغَةً أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فَإِذَا كَمَلَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَكَيْنِ خَلَّاقَيْنِ‌[1] فَيَقُولَانِ يَا رَبِّ مَا تَخْلُقُ ذَكَراً أَوْ أُنْثَى فَيُؤْمَرَانِ فَيَقُولَانِ يَا رَبِّ شَقِيّاً أَوْ سَعِيداً فَيُؤ

Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir) (as) said: "Sperm in the womb after forty days becomes a clot, and then after another forty days becomes a fetus. When four months pass by, Allah sends two creating angels and they ask, “Oh Lord, what do You want to create, male or female?". They are then commanded accordingly. Then they ask, "Oh

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ النُّطْفَةَ[2] الَّتِي مِمَّا أَخَذَ عَلَيْهَا الْمِيثَاقَ فِي صُلْبِ آدَمَ أَوْ مَا يَبْدُو لَهُ فِيهِ‌[3] وَ يَجْعَلَهَا فِي الرَّحِمِ حَرَّكَ الرَّجُلَ لِلْجِمَاعِ وَ أَوْحَى إِلَى الرَّحِمِ‌[4] أَنِ افْتَحِي بَابَكِ حَتَّى يَلِجَ فِيكِ- خَلْقِي وَ قَضَائِيَ النَّافِذُ وَ قَدَرِي فَتَفْتَحُ الرَّحِمُ بَابَهَا فَتَصِلُ النُّطْفَةُ إِلَى الرَّحِمِ فَتَرَدَّدُ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, wants to create the seed which has formed the covenant when taken from the back of Adam or what appears to Him, (due to al-Bada’ ) He places it in the womb and moves the man to go to bed with the woman (his wife). He inspires the womb to open its

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْخَلْقِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَمَّا خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ مِنْ طِينٍ أَفَاضَ بِهَا كَإِفَاضَةِ الْقِدَاحِ‌[2] فَأَخْرَجَ الْمُسْلِمَ فَجَعَلَهُ سَعِيداً وَ جَعَلَ الْكَافِرَ شَقِيّاً فَإِذَا وَقَعَتِ النُّطْفَةُ تَلَقَّتْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ فَصَوَّرُوهَا ثُمَّ قَالُوا يَا رَبِّ أَ ذَكَراً أَوْ أُنْثَى فَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ أَيَّ ذَلِكَ شَاءَ فَيَقُولَانِ تَ

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the creation. He (the Imam) said, ‘When Allah, most Blessed, most High, created the creation from clay He poured them as arrows are poured, took out the Muslim ones, made him fortunate and made the unbeliever wicked ones. When the seed falls angels receive it and give it its shape

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يَدْعُو لِلْحُبْلَى أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ مَا فِي بَطْنِهَا ذَكَراً سَوِيّاً قَالَ يَدْعُو مَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ فَإِنَّهُ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً نُطْفَةٌ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً عَلَقَةٌ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً مُضْغَةٌ فَذَلِكَ تَمَامُ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَلَكَيْنِ خَلَّاقَيْنِ فَيَقُولَانِ يَا رَبِّ مَا نَخْلُقُ ذَكَراً

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, can a pregnant woman pray to Allah to make the child inside her a well formed boy?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘She can do so from conception up to the fourth month. Up to forty nights it is sperm, for another forty nights it

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ النُّطْفَةُ فِي الرَّحِمِ اسْتَقَرَّتْ فِيهَا أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ تَكُونُ عَلَقَةً أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ تَكُونُ مُضْغَةً أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَلَكَيْنِ خَلَّاقَيْنِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمَا اخْلُقَا كَمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ ذَكَراً أَوْ أُنْثَى صَوِّرَاهُ وَ اكْتُبَا أَجَلَهُ وَ رِزْقَهُ وَ مَنِيَّتَهُ‌[1] وَ شَقِيّاً أَوْ سَعِيداً وَ اكْتُبَا لِلَّه

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘When the seed falls in the womb it settles there for forty days, remains as a clot for forty days and as an embryo for another forty days. Allah then sends two creative angels with instruction to create him, as Allah wants it to be. It can be a male or a female. They shape him

إِنَّ لِلرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعَةَ سُبُلٍ فِي أَيِّ سَبِيلٍ سَلَكَ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ مِنْهُ الْوَلَدُ وَاحِدٌ وَ اثْنَانِ وَ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ لَا يَكُونُ إِلَى سَبِيلٍ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ وَاحِدٍ.

‘The womb has four ways in whichever way the seed (water) finds the path thereof comes a child, one child, two children , three children or four children . In (through) one way only one child can come and no more/”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ لِلرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَوْعِيَةٍ فَمَا كَانَ فِي الْأَوَّلِ فَلِلْأَبِ‌[1] وَ مَا كَانَ فِي الثَّانِي فَلِلْأُمِّ وَ مَا كَانَ فِي الثَّالِثِ فَلِلْعُمُومَةِ وَ مَا كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعِ فَلِلْخُئُولَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah has created four receptacles for the womb. Whatever is from the first is for the father, whatever is from the second is from the mother, whatever is from the third is from the paternal uncles and whatever is from the fourth is from the maternal uncles (in gender or shape).’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا حَضَرَتْ وِلَادَةُ الْمَرْأَةِ قَالَ أَخْرِجُوا مَنْ فِي الْبَيْتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ لَا يَكُونُ أَوَّلَ نَاظِرٍ إِلَى عَوْرَةٍ.

“At the time of the birth of a child, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would say, ’Send all women out of the house; they must not be the first to look at the privacy [genitals].

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وُلِدَ لِي غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ رَزَقَكَ اللَّهُ شُكْرَ الْوَاهِبِ وَ بَارَكَ لَكَ فِي الْمَوْهُوبِ وَ بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَ رَزَقَكَ اللَّهُ بِرَّهُ.

“A man once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A boy is born to me. He (the Imam) said, ‘May Allah enable you to thank the Benefactor, bless you with the gift and make him to grow up to manhood! May Allah grant you the chance to enjoy his virtuous deeds!’”

وُلِدَ لِلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع مَوْلُودٌ فَأَتَتْهُ قُرَيْشٌ فَقَالُوا يَهْنِئُكَ الْفَارِسُ فَقَالَ وَ مَا هَذَا مِنَ الْكَلَامِ قُولُوا شَكَرْتَ الْوَاهِبَ وَ بُورِكَ لَكَ فِي الْمَوْهُوبِ وَ بَلَغَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَشُدَّهُ وَ رَزَقَكَ بِرَّهُ.

“A child was born to al-Hasan ibn Ali (a.s.), and Quraysh came to congratulate him and saying, ‘Congratulations to you for the birth of the rider (the knight).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘What kind of expression is this! Say, 'May Allah enable you to thank the Benefactor for the blessed gift, may Allah make him to grow up to

هَنَّأَ رَجُلٌ رَجُلًا أَصَابَ ابْناً فَقَالَ يَهْنِئُكَ الْفَارِسُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ ع مَا عِلْمُكَ يَكُونُ فَارِساً أَوْ رَاجِلًا قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا أَقُولُ قَالَ تَقُولُ شَكَرْتَ الْوَاهِبَ وَ بُورِكَ لَكَ فِي الْمَوْهُوبِ وَ بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَ رَزَقَكَ بِرَّهُ.

“Once a man congratulated another man on the birth of his son by saying, ‘Congratulation for the birth of the rider (the knight).’ Al-Hasan (a.s.) then said, ‘How would you know if he will be a rider or walking on foot?’ He asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what I should say?’ He (the I

أَصْدَقُ الْأَسْمَاءِ مَا سُمِّيَ بِالْعُبُودِيَّةِ وَ أَفْضَلُهَا أَسْمَاءُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ.

The truest name is that which expresses one’s slavery to (Allah) and the best of them are names of the Prophets.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ سَمُّوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُولَدُوا فَإِنْ لَمْ تَدْرُوا أَ ذَكَرٌ أَمْ أُنْثَى فَسَمُّوهُمْ بِالْأَسْمَاءِ الَّتِي تَكُونُ لِلذَّكَرِ وَ الْأُنْثَى فَإِنَّ أَسْقَاطَكُمْ إِذَا لَقُوكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ لَمْ تُسَمُّوهُمْ يَقُولُ السِّقْطُ لِأَبِيهِ أَلَّا سَمَّيْتَنِي وَ قَدْ سَمَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مُحَسِّناً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُولَدَ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father narrated to me from my grandfather that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Name your children before they are born: and if you do not know they are male or female, then name them with such names that are good for both male and female. In case a child is miscarried, when that child

أَوَّلُ مَا يَبَرُّ الرَّجُلُ وَلَدَهُ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ بِاسْمٍ حَسَنٍ فَلْيُحْسِنْ أَحَدُكُمُ اسْمَ وَلَدِهِ.

The first good thing that a father can do to his children is to give them good names. You must find a good name for (each of) your children.’”

لَا يُولَدُ لَنَا وَلَدٌ إِلَّا سَمَّيْنَاهُ مُحَمَّداً فَإِذَا مَضَى لَنَا سَبْعَةُ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنْ شِئْنَا غَيَّرْنَا وَ إِنْ شِئْنَا تَرَكْنَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘We name every child born to us Muhammad and after seven days if we like we change or keep the same name.’”

سَمِّهِ بِأَسْمَاءٍ مِنَ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ فَقَالَ أَيُّ الْأَسْمَاءِ هُوَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), for advice about the name of my child and he (the Imam) said, ‘Name him with the names that express slavery (to Allah).’ He then asked, ‘Which ones are they?’ He (the Imam) said, “Abd al-Rahman.’”

مَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةُ أَوْلَادٍ لَمْ يُسَمِّ أَحَدَهُمْ بِاسْمِي فَقَدْ جَفَانِي.

‘If four sons are born to someone and he does not name even one of them with my name he has done injustice to me.’”

اسْتَعْمَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ مَرْوَانَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَفْرِضَ لِشَبَابِ قُرَيْشٍ‌[1] فَفَرَضَ لَهُمْ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ مَا اسْمُكَ فَقُلْتُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ فَقَالَ مَا اسْمُ أَخِيكَ فَقُلْتُ عَلِيٌّ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ وَ عَلِيٌّ مَا يُرِيدُ أَبُوكَ أَنْ يَدَعَ أَحَداً مِنْ وُلْدِهِ إِلَّا سَمَّاهُ عَلِيّاً ثُمَّ فَرَضَ لِي فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَبِ

“Mu‘awiyah appointed Marwan ibn al-Hakam as his agent in al-Madinah and ordered him to pay a certain salary to the young people of Quraysh which he did. Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘I went to him and he asked, ‘What is your name?’ I replied, ‘It is Ali ibn al-Husayn.’ He then asked, ‘What is the nam

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْفَقْرُ بَيْتاً فِيهِ اسْمُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَوْ أَحْمَدَ أَوْ عَلِيٍّ أَوِ الْحَسَنِ أَوِ الْحُسَيْنِ أَوْ جَعْفَرٍ أَوْ طَالِبٍ أَوْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْ فَاطِمَةَ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Poverty does not enter a house wherein a person’s name is Muhammad or Ahmad or Ali or al-Hassan or al-Husayn or Ja‘far or Talib or ‘Abd Allah or Fatimah of the women.’”

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وُلِدَ لِي غُلَامٌ فَمَا ذَا أُسَمِّيهِ قَالَ سَمِّهِ بِأَحَبِّ الْأَسْمَاءِ إِلَيَّ حَمْزَةَ.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to the Holy Prophet (saww) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, a son is born to me, what should I name him?’ The Messenger of Allah repli

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اسْتَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ فَإِنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ قُمْ يَا فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ إِلَى نُورِكَ وَ قُمْ يَا فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ لَا نُورَ لَكَ.

‘You should give yourselves good names; on the Day of Judgment you will be called with your names: O so and so son of so and so, stand up to your light and stand up, O so and so son of so and so, you have no light.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا تُكَنَّى قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا اكْتَنَيْتُ بَعْدُ وَ مَا لِي مِنْ وَلَدٍ وَ لَا امْرَأَةٍ وَ لَا جَارِيَةٍ قَالَ فَمَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ حَدِيثٌ‌ بَلَغَنَا عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ع قَالَ وَ مَا هُوَ قُلْتُ بَلَغَنَا عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنِ اكْتَنَى وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَهْلٌ فَهُوَ أَبُو جَعْرٍ[1] فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع شَوْهٌ‌[2] لَيْسَ هَذَا مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَلِيٍّ ع إِنَّا لَن

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What is your Kunyah (father of so and so or son of so and so)?’ I replied, ‘I have no Kunyah yet; I have no son or wife or daughter.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What keeps you from having one?’ I replied, ‘It is a Hadith which is narrated from Ali (a.s.). ’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is i

أَرَادَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع الرُّكُوبَ إِلَى بَعْضِ شِيعَتِهِ لِيَعُودَهُ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ الْحَقْنِي فَتَبِعْتُهُ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى بَابِ الدَّارِ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا ابْنٌ لَهُ صَغِيرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا اسْمُكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ فَبِمَا تُكَنَّى قَالَ بِعَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع لَقَدِ احْتَظَرْتَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ احْتِظَاراً شَدِيداً[4] إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ إِذَا سَمِعَ مُنَادِياً

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), once wanted to visit one of his followers because he was ill. He (the Imam) told me to follow him and I followed him (the Imam). When he (the Imam) arrived at his door his small son came out and abu Ja‘far (a.s.), asked, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘It is Muhammad.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What i

هَذَا مُحَمَّدٌ أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي التَّسْمِيَةِ بِهِ فَمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي يس يَعْنِي التَّسْمِيَةَ وَ هُوَ اسْمُ النَّبِيِّ ص‌[5].

“Abu Ja‘far, or abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘This is ‘Muhammad’ (the Messenger of Allah) who has given them permission to name themselves with his name. However, who has given them permission to name themselves ‘Yasin’ which is the name of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad an

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص دَعَا بِصَحِيفَةٍ حِينَ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَنْهَى‌ عَنْ أَسْمَاءٍ يُتَسَمَّى بِهَا فَقُبِضَ وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّهَا مِنْهَا الْحَكَمُ وَ حَكِيمٌ وَ خَالِدٌ وَ مَالِكٌ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهَا سِتَّةٌ أَوْ سَبْعَةٌ مِمَّا لَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُتَسَمَّى بِهَا.

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah asked for a sahifah (a book) and he (the Messenger of Allah) wanted to prohibit the use of certain names to use. He (the Messenger of Allah) passed away but he (the Messenger of Allah) did not mention them. Of such names are al- Hakam and Hakim, Khalid and Mal

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص نَهَى عَنْ أَرْبَعِ كُنًى عَنْ أَبِي عِيسَى وَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَكَمِ وَ عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ وَ عَنْ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ إِذَا كَانَ الِاسْمُ مُحَمَّداً.

that the Prophet (sw) prohibited using four epithets; Abu ‘Isa, Abu al-Hakam, Abu Malik, and Abu al-Qasim if the name is Muhammad.’”

إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الْأَسْمَاءِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- حَارِثٌ وَ- مَالِكٌ وَ خَالِدٌ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The most hated names to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, are Harith, Malik and Khalid.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رَجُلًا كَانَ يَغْشَى‌[1] عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ كَانَ يُكَنَّى أَبَا مُرَّةَ فَكَانَ إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ يَقُولُ- أَبُو مُرَّةَ بِالْبَابِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع بِاللَّهِ إِذَا جِئْتَ إِلَى بَابِنَا فَلَا تَقُولَنَّ أَبُو مُرَّةَ[2].

This is abu Murrah at the door.’ Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), said to him, ‘I swear you to Allah that when you come to our door do not say, ‘This is abu Murrah at the door (it is Kunyah of Satan).”’

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا بُشِّرَ بِالْوَلَدِ لَمْ يَسْأَلْ أَ ذَكَرٌ هُوَ أَمْ أُنْثَى حَتَّى يَقُولَ أَ سَوِيٌّ فَإِنْ كَانَ سَوِيّاً قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَخْلُقْ مِنِّي شَيْئاً مُشَوَّهاً.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘When one receives the news of the birth of his child one must not ask, “Is it a boy or a girl?’ One must ask, ‘Is it of complete physical condition?’ If the child is of complete physical condition one must say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has not created from me a defective ch

فِي الْمَرْأَةِ الْحَامِلِ تَأْكُلُ السَّفَرْجَلَ فَإِنَّ الْوَلَدَ يَكُونُ أَطْيَبَ رِيحاً وَ أَصْفَى لَوْناً.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘A pregnant woman should eat quince because the child grows up of fine smell and clear color.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ نَظَرَ إِلَى غُلَامٍ جَمِيلٍ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ أَبُو هَذَا الْغُلَامِ آكِلَ السَّفَرْجَلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), while looking at a beautiful boy said, ‘It seems the father of this boy had been eating quince.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ خَيْرُ تُمُورِكُمُ الْبَرْنِيُّ فَأَطْعِمُوهُ نِسَاءَكُمْ فِي نِفَاسِهِنَّ تَخْرُجْ أَوْلَادُكُمْ زَكِيّاً حَلِيماً.

The best of your dates are al-Barniy, feed them to your women during their childbirth; your children will grow up intelligent and forbearing.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لِيَكُنْ أَوَّلُ مَا تَأْكُلُ النُّفَسَاءُ الرُّطَبَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ لِمَرْيَمَ- وَ هُزِّي‌ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُساقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَباً جَنِيًّا[1] قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَوَانُ‌[2] الرُّطَبِ قَالَ سَبْعَ تَمَرَاتٍ مِنْ تَمْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَسَبْعَ تَمَرَاتٍ مِنْ تَمْرِ أَمْصَارِكُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ وَ

“The Messenger of Allah (s.w) has said, ‘The first thing that women should eat is fresh dates; Allah, most High, said to Maryam, ‘...shake the twig of the palm tree; fresh dates will fall on you to be picked up.’ (Quran 19:24) It then was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what happens if it is not the season of fresh dates