The birth of baby in Muslim family
Today I would like to draw your attention to culture differences and people attitude to the birth of baby in different countries. And I have chosen the most interesting countries from my point of view such as Muslim ones. So, what does happen in Muslim family and community after the birth of the baby? The birth of every new person the Moslems consider as a great gift of Allah, the most important event in the life of every Muslim family. There are specials conditions, which regulate the actions of parents and their relatives in connection with the birth of baby.
1. The first sigh and the first word. The first word that every Muslim baby hears is “God”. As soon as the baby born in his ears whisper the words of praising of the Most High: in the right – appeal to the prayer and to the left – the second appeal to the prayer. As a rule the father does it. This ceremony has a deep sense. According to Islam, Satan, the main enemy of all people, waits impatiently for the birth of every baby in order to lead astray. That is why it is very important that the baby hears the appeal to God before the call of Satan. The words of belief in God and faithfulness will accompany him during his life.
2. Sweetness of the first moments. After the baby has heard the divine words it is necessary to anoint his lips and oral cavity with date mass. The mother does it the next manner. Firstly she chews well a date, than takes a small part of it and puts in the mouth of the baby. Then she massages his oral cavity with light movements in order to place this mass throughout the oral cavity. In the same time she reads prayers to health and good wishes to her baby. If the parents have not a date, they can use every sweet fruit. People consider that this massage strengthens the muscles of baby. According to the legend the prophet Muhammad himself have done this procedure in the first time.
3. Hair worth weight in gold. In seven days after the birth of baby it is desired to shave his head and distribute among the poor silver and gold, the weight of which is equal to shaved hair. In another case the parents can give a sum of money corresponding the quantity of this precious metal. But what the parents should do, if the baby does not have hair at all? They should simply distribute charity among those, who need it.
4. The importance of the name. The choice of the name is very important for the Moslems. Bur there are some disagreements according to the target date. Some insist on calling the baby in the seventh day after his birth. The others persist in doing it in the first day. But the day is not so important. The attitude to this event in the life of every person is much more significant. The Moslems should call their children in the name of prophets and angels. It is reasonable that that the name of the first prophet Muhammad is the most popular. But there are other recommendations. A person, who is responsible for it, should observe on the name of the baby in order to save him from offensive mockeries. People say that even Prophet himself changed disharmonious names. The names of boys include not only the names of prophets and angels, but also ones, which have the root “abd”. Girls usually have the names of the women from the family of Prophet
5. Thank God. It is desired (if the parents of the baby have enough money) in the seventh day after his birth to sacrifice a sheep. If the girl has born, it is necessary to sacrifice one sheep in the case of the birth of boy it is necessary to slaughter one or two sheep. It depends on the financial position of his father. But nowadays in the cities it is not so easy to sacrifice an animal. But the Moslems try to resolve this problem. They go to suburb in order to do this ceremonial there. People, who are too far from Islam, may think that this custom is very exotic or even barbaric. But the Moslems believe that God doe not need this sacrifice. They think that people themselves need it.
6. Circumcision as a sign of submission to Allah. This custom is very ancient and not only people of Islam do it. The Moslems do it with their sons in order to show that the parents, completely submitted to Allah, pass the baby to his will. A person with a special medical and religion education can do the circumcision. He can do it both at home and in any hospital, where there is a surgeon. There is no a single opinion about the day of circumcision. The majority of doctors believe that it necessary to do the circumcision in the same day with the shaving of hair of the baby. It means in the seventh day after his birth. For example, in Turkey, doctors do it with the boys at the age of 7-10. However, all boys of the full legal age should be cut.
The possibility to have children is very important for all Moslems. They marry not only to satisfy their carnal needs. It is much more essential to born and to bring-up own children. The Moslems believe that children are the greatest plenty of God. That is why in Muslim families the wife and the husband are not slave and sovereign, their relations are build on mutual respect and care.