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
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ أَطْعِمُوا الْبَرْنِيَّ نِسَاءَكُمْ فِي نِفَاسِهِنَّ تَحْلُمْ أَوْلَادُكُمْ.
‘Feed your women with al-Barniy (dates) during their childbirth; your children will grow up forbearing.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَطْعِمُوا حَبَالاكُمُ اللُّبَانَ فَإِنَّ الصَّبِيَّ إِذَا غُذِّيَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ بِاللُّبَانِ اشْتَدَّ قَلْبُهُ وَ زِيدَ فِي عَقْلِهِ فَإِنْ يَكُ ذَكَراً كَانَ شُجَاعاً وَ إِنْ وُلِدَتْ أُنْثَى عَظُمَتْ عَجِيزَتُهَا فَتَحْظَى بِذَلِكَ عِنْدَ زَوْجِهَا[1].
“The Messenger of Allah (s.w) has said, ‘Feed your women, during their pregnancy, frankincense; if a child receives frankincense for nourishment in the mother’s womb it strengthens the heart of the child and increases the reasoning power of the child. If the child is a male he grows up brave and if the child is female
أَطْعِمُوا حَبَالاكُمْ ذَكَرَ اللُّبَانِ فَإِنْ يَكُ فِي بَطْنِهَا غُلَامٌ خَرَجَ ذَكِيَّ الْقَلْبِ عَالِماً شُجَاعاً وَ إِنْ تَكُ جَارِيَةٌ حَسُنَ خَلْقُهَا وَ خُلُقُهَا وَ عَظُمَتْ عَجِيزَتُهَا وَ حَظِيَتْ عِنْدَ زَوْجِهَا.
“Al-Rida’ (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘You should feed male frankincense to your pregnant women; if the child in her womb is a male he will grow up of intelligent heart, learned and brave; and if the child is female she will grow up of good moral behavior (beautiful) and of large posterior which will be favorable t
إِذَا وُلِدَ لَكُمُ الْمَوْلُودُ أَيَّ شَيْءٍ تَصْنَعُونَ بِهِ قُلْتُ لَا أَدْرِي مَا نَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ خُذْ عَدَسَةَ جَاوَشِيرَ فَدُفْهُ[2] بِمَاءٍ ثُمَّ قَطِّرْ فِي أَنْفِهِ فِي الْمَنْخِرِ الْأَيْمَنِ قَطْرَتَيْنِ وَ فِي الْأَيْسَرِ قَطْرَةً وَاحِدَةً وَ أَذِّنْ فِي أُذُنِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَ أَقِمْ فِي الْيُسْرَى تَفْعَلُ بِهِ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُقْطَعَ سُرَّتُهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَفْزَعُ أَبَداً وَ لَا تُصِيبُهُ أ
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked, ‘When a child is born what do you do for the child?’ I replied, ‘I do not know what we should do.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Take Jawshir [Persian Arabicized word for cow milk] of the size of a lentil and warm it up with water then drop it in the nostrils of the child; two drops in the r
مُرُوا الْقَابِلَةَ أَوْ بَعْضَ مَنْ يَلِيهِ أَنْ تُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ فِي أُذُنِهِ الْيُمْنَى فَلَا يُصِيبَهُ لَمَمٌ وَ لَا تَابِعَةٌ أَبَداً[4].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Instruct the doctor or someone involved to say Salat (prayer) in the right ear of the child to protect the child against the effect of insanity or the Jinn that follows human beings.’”
قَالَ: يُحَنَّكُ الْمَوْلُودُ بِمَاءِ الْفُرَاتِ وَ يُقَامُ فِي أُذُنِهِ.
‘Drops of water from the Euphrates should be dropped in the newborn’s mouth, and Iqamah should be recited in his ear.’”
حَنِّكُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِمَاءِ الْفُرَاتِ وَ بِتُرْبَةِ قَبْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَبِمَاءِ السَّمَاءِ.
4. In another Hadith it is said: ‘You should drop water from the Euphrates and soil from the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.) in the mouth of your children, and if it is not possible, then water from the sky (rain).’
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع حَنِّكُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالتَّمْرِ هَكَذَا فَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ص بِالْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع.
“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, ‘Feed your newborn children dates, because the Holy Prophet (sw) did so with al-Hassan and al-Husayn, peace be upon them both.”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ مَوْلُودٌ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ فِي أُذُنِهِ الْيُمْنَى بِأَذَانِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ لْيُقِمْ فِي الْيُسْرَى فَإِنَّهَا عِصْمَةٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ.
“The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ‘Whoever has a newborn child, let them recite the call to prayer (adhan) in their right ear, and let them recite the iqamah in their left (ear), for it serves as protection from the accursed Satan.’”
الْعَقِيقَةُ وَاجِبَةٌ إِذَا وُلِدَ لِلرَّجُلِ وَلَدٌ فَإِنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ فَعَلَ[1].
‘Aqiqah is obligatory when a child is born to one, and if he likes to give him a name on that day he can do so.’”
كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ مُرْتَهَنٌ بِالْعَقِيقَةِ.
“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Every newborn child is safeguarded with ‘Aqiqah.’”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي كَانَ أَبِي عَقَّ عَنِّي أَمْ لَا قَالَ فَأَمَرَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَعَقَقْتُ عَنْ نَفْسِي وَ أَنَا شَيْخٌ وَ قَالَ عُمَرُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مُرْتَهَنٌ بِعَقِيقَتِهِ وَ الْعَقِيقَةُ أَوْجَبُ مِنَ الْأُضْحِيَّةِ[1].
“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I by Allah do not know if my father had made ‘Aqiqah for me or not.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), commanded me and I made ‘Aqiqah for myself when I was an old man.’ ‘Umar has said, ‘I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, “Every man is safeguarded with his ‘
كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ مُرْتَهَنٌ بِعَقِيقَتِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Every newborn is safeguarded with ‘Aqiqah.’”
سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْعَقِيقَةِ أَ وَاجِبَةٌ هِيَ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَاجِبَةٌ.
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about ‘ Aqiqah : if it is obligatory or not. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is obligatory.’”
كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَاءَهُ رَسُولُ عَمِّهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَقُولُ لَكَ عَمُّكَ إِنَّا طَلَبْنَا الْعَقِيقَةَ فَلَمْ نَجِدْهَا فَمَا تَرَى نَتَصَدَّقُ بِثَمَنِهَا فَقَالَ لَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ وَ إِرَاقَةَ الدِّمَاءِ.
“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a messenger from his uncle came and said, ‘Your uncle says, “We tried to find ‘Aqiqah but could not find one. Do you think our giving its price in charity is sufficient?”’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, Allah loves feeding of food and slaughtering animals (to feeding the needy).”’
الْعَقِيقَةُ وَاجِبَةٌ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, “Aqiqah is obligatory.’”
وُلِدَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع غُلَامَانِ جَمِيعاً فَأَمَرَ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ لَهُ جَزُورَيْنِ لِلْعَقِيقَةِ[2] وَ كَانَ زَمَنُ غَلَاءٍ فَاشْتَرَى لَهُ وَاحِدَةً وَ عَسُرَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْأُخْرَى فَقَالَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَدْ عَسُرَتْ عَلَيَّ الْأُخْرَى فَتَصَدَّقْ بِثَمَنِهَا فَقَالَ لَا اطْلُبْهَا حَتَّى تَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ إِهْرَاقَ الدِّمَاءِ وَ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَ
"Two boys were born to Abu Ja'far (a.s.). So, he ordered Zaid ibn Ali to buy for him two sheep for the 'Aqiqah (the sacrifice for a newborn). It was a time when prices were high, so he bought one, and the other was difficult for him (to buy). He said to Abu Ja'far (a.s.): "The other one was difficult for me, so give ch
الْغُلَامُ رَهْنٌ بِسَابِعِهِ بِكَبْشٍ[1] يُسَمَّى فِيهِ وَ يُعَقُّ عَنْهُ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ ع حَلَقَتْ ابْنَيْهَا وَ تَصَدَّقَتْ بِوَزْنِ شَعْرِهِمَا فِضَّةً.
‘The boy is safeguarded on the seventh day from his birth with giving him a name and slaughtering of a ram for ‘Aqiqah.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Fatimah ‘Alayha al-Salam, shaved (the heads) of her two sons and gave in charity of silver by the weight of their hair.’”
سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْعَقِيقَةِ فَقَالَ فِي الذَّكَرِ وَ الْأُنْثَى سَوَاءٌ.
‘It is the same for both male and female.”’
الْعَقِيقَةُ فِي الْغُلَامِ وَ الْجَارِيَةِ سَوَاءٌ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘ ‘Aqiqah for boys and girls is the same.’”
سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْعَقِيقَةِ فَقَالَ عَقِيقَةُ الْغُلَامِ وَ الْجَارِيَةِ كَبْشٌ كَبْشٌ.
‘ ‘Aqiqah for a boy and a girl is the same, one ram for this and one ram for this.’”
عَقِيقَةُ الْغُلَامِ وَ الْجَارِيَةِ كَبْشٌ.
‘Aqiqah for a boy or a girl is one ram.’”