FAQs

If you breastfeed an infant for five times or more, the baby becomes a mahram for you and your husband. At that time, the status of the child is the same as your own biological child, i.e. does not void the ablution and does not have to cover awrah. According to a hadith:

"يحرم من الرضاع ما يحرم من النسب"

Which means: "What is forbidden by suckling or breastfeeding is the same as what is forbidden by lineage". (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

However, a mother and her nursing child do not inherit from one another.

Giving your own child to be adopted to others is not wrong in Islam. However, it is necessary to observe the social and emotional effects on him. If indeed the couple who will adopt the child is capable to raise the child well within the foundation and teaching of Islam while the child's biological parents could not afford to raise the child emotionally financially and religiously, then there is no wrong for the child to be adopted.

It should also be reminded according to Islamic rules, the adopted child cannot inherit from the property of his adoptive parents but he/she will however inherit from the property of his biological parents. Hence, it is best that the adoptive parents consult a lawyer/financial advisor to plan for the adoptive child i.e. by drafting a will etc.

First and foremost, do note that the prohibition from associating the child’s name to a non-biological and father extends beyond just including or excluding the bin or binte. The objective is so as not to create a leading impression that the child’s father is the man whose name is attached to hers/his. Hence, putting the adoptive father’s name without the bin or binte would still carry a similar effect as having bin or binte.

However, it is also not recommended to put “Bte Abdullah” into his/her name as this may attract unneccesary attention in future. Instead, one may wish to include just his/her name on her/his birth certificate.

Committing adultery or premarital sex is a great act of sin in Islam. The person has to repent and seek forgiveness from God.

The child born out of wedlock is regarded as an illegitimate child, although if the biological mother eventually marries the biological father. As according to a hadith narrated

"الولد للفراش"

Which means: "The child belongs to the bed (marriage relationship)" (Narrated by Imam Abu Huraira)

As the child is attributed to the mother and not the father, hence, the father is not eligible to stand in as a wali for the illegitimate child during marriage. And according to Islamic ruling, it is not allowed for the child to carry the father’s name, and they do not inherit from each other.

As stated in the Quran:

"أدعوهم لآباءهم هو أقسط عند الله"

Which means: “Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah”. (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 5).

Therefore, an out-of wedlock child must not carry the name of his biological father. He is therefore obliged to change the name of his surname to any other name besides the name of the biological father, i.e. any other suitable names.

A child belongs to his mother and father. Therefore, if a child is suspected to be a victim of a domestic violence, it is the responsibility of his parents to protect him. If one or both of them is not able to protect them, they can seek help from the authority. This is allowed in Islam. For more info on domestic violence please visit www.aware.org.sg 

When a baby is born, it is Sunnah to perform the following:

1) Azan in the right ear, and iqamat in the left ear (regardless whether the chils is a male or female). This is based on a hadith narrated by Ubaidillah Bin Abi Rafi from his father:

"رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أذن في أذن الحسن بن علي حين ولدته فاطمة بالصلاة"

Which means: "I have seen the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. giving azan in the ear of Hasan Bin Ali when Fatima gave birth to him". (Narrated by Imam Tirmizi)

2) Give a good name within the seventh day.

3) Shave the head of the baby on the seventh day or later. The weight of the baby's hair is calculated by the value of gold or silver and to give such amount as sadaqah to the poor. According to a hadith:

"يا فاطمة، احلقي رأسه، وتصدقي بزنة شعره فضة"

Which means: "O Fatimah, shave her hair and donate it by the value of silver ". (Narrated by Imam Tirmizi).

4) Perform aqiqah by slaughtering 2 goats for a son, and a goat for a daughter. In Singapore, aqiqah can be done on Hari Raya Haji.

Based on a hadith, the Prophet s.a.w. said:

"الغلام مرتهن بعقيقته، يذبح عنه يوم السابع، ويسمى ويحلق رأسه"

Which means: "A child is in pledge for his aqiqah. Perform the slaughter on the seventh day, give him a name and shave his hair." (Narrated by Abu Daud).

5) Perform tahnik for the newborn with dates or something sweet.

It is a sunnah in Islam to shave the hair of a newborn. It is recommended to be done on the seventh day. The hair is then weighed, or by estimation. The weight of the hair is then calculated equivalent to the value of gold after which the money is given to the poor as a sadaqah.

From the religious point of view, it encourages us to show gratitude to Allah and to share the joy with the needy by giving them alms. This is in accordance with the word of God in the Quran:

"لئن شكرتم لأزيدنكم"

Which means: "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]." (Surah Ibrahim: 7)

Physically, it removes the hair that has long been in the womb of the mother so as to clear the dirt that might be trapped in the hair and eventually grow new and healthy hair.

When a baby is born, it is Sunnah to perform the following:

1) Azan in the right ear, and iqamat in the left ear (regardless of male or female). This is based on a hadith narrated by Ubaidillah Bin Abi Rafi from his father:

"رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أذن في أذن الحسن بن علي حين ولدته فاطمة بالصلاة"

Which means: "I have seen the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. giving azan in the ear of Hasan Bin Ali when Fatima gave birth to him". (Narrated by Imam Tirmizi)

2) Give a good name within the seventh day.

3) Shave the head of the baby on the seventh day or later. The weight of the baby's hair is calculated by the value of gold or silver and then be given to the poor (sadaqah). According to a hadith:

"يا فاطمة، احلقي رأسه، وتصدقي بزنة شعره فضة"

Which means: "O Fatimah, shave her hair and donate it by the value of silver ". (Narrated by Imam Tirmizi).

4) Perform aqiqah by slaughtering 2 goats for a son, and a goat for a daughter. In Singapore, aqiqah can be done on Hari Raya Haji.

Based on a hadith, the Prophet s.a.w said:

"الغلام مرتهن بعقيقته، يذبح عنه يوم السابع، ويسمى ويحلق رأسه"

"A child is in pledge for his aqiqah. Perform the slaughter on the seventh day, give him a name and shave his hair." (Narrated by Abu Daud)

5) Perform tahnik for the newborn with dates or something sweet.

These rites can be done at any time. However, it is a sunnah to perform the number 2 to 4 on the seventh day after the birth of a baby. As for shaving of the baby head, it can be delayed for a valid reason.

Islam encourages Muslims to shave newborn babies as baby has been in the womb for  several months that dry blood and dirt might be stucked in the baby's scalp. New hair that grows will bring out the impurities and at the same time give a clean and healthy hair.

Putting shaved hair into a decorated coconut is not an Islamic practice. It is a cultural tradition practice by segment of the community.

Therefore, it is best to grace the ceremony with the recitation of the holy verses of the Quran and the selawat upon the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

A placenta is considered as parts of a body. It is a Sunnah to bury any parts that has been separated from its body. It however does not need to be cleansed and wrapped in white cloth.

If by burying may cause a problem such as difficulties in allocating a place to bury it, one can entrust the hospital to dispose off the placenta.