Calling the Adhan: A Sunnah Practice for Newborns
Introduction
Islam encourages calling the Adhan (the Islamic call to prayer) in the ear of a newborn child, a tradition rooted in profound spiritual significance. The Adhan proclaims that Allah, the Lord of the universe, is the greatest, that He is the only God, and that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His messenger. This practice serves as the first spiritual message a child hears upon entering the world, embedding the core beliefs of Islam from the very beginning of life.
The Prophetic Tradition
A hadith narrated by Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) highlights this practice. When Fatimah (RA) gave birth to her son Hasan bin Ali, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called the Adhan in Hasan’s ear (Ahmad, Tirmidhi). This act, as recorded by Imam Nawawi (R.A.) in Sharhul Muhaddab, is considered a prophetic tradition (Sunnah).
السنه ان يؤذن في اذن المولود (شرح المهذب)
Scholarly Perspectives
While the hadith of Abu Rafi’ is widely cited, some scholars have questioned the reliability of Asim bin Ubaidillah in the chain of narration (Sadul Ma’ad). Despite this, the majority of scholars agree that calling the Adhan in the ear of a newborn is a Sunnah act, though it is not obligatory.
Some Hadith scholars, including Nasiruddin Albani and Abdul Muhsin Al-Abbad, have critically evaluated the narrations regarding calling the Adhan and Iqamah in a newborn’s ear. They concluded that the authenticity of these Hadiths is questionable, and thus, the practice is not firmly established in authentic Sunnah.
Deeds Determine Success in the Hereafter
It is essential to understand that a person’s success in the Hereafter is not solely dependent on whether the Adhan was called in their ear as a newborn. Islam teaches that each individual is judged based on their actions and deeds. There are countless examples of non-Muslims who, though not having heard the Adhan at birth, embraced Islam and lived righteous lives, attaining great reward in the Hereafter.
Qur’anic Verses on Deeds and Rewards
The following Qur’anic verses emphasize the importance of righteous deeds and how they determine one’s success in the Hereafter:
- Surah Al-Zalzalah (99:7-8) Arabic:
وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُۥ
وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍۢ شَرًّۭا يَرَهُۥTranslation:
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it,
And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” - Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:102-103) Arabic:
فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فِى جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدُونَTranslation:
“Then those whose scales are heavy [with good deeds]—it is they who will be successful.
But those whose scales are light—those are the ones who have lost their souls, [being] in Hell, abiding eternally.” - Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286) Arabic:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْTranslation:
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.”
Equality in Righteousness and Reward
Islam emphasizes that both men and women are equally rewarded for their righteous deeds, regardless of whether the Adhan was called in their ear at birth:
- Surah An-Nisa (4:124) Arabic:
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًۭاTranslation:
“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer—those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.” - Surah An-Nahl (16:97) Arabic:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَTranslation:
“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely cause them to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.” - Surah Al-Ahzab (33:35) Arabic:
إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظَـٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًاTranslation:
“Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so—for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.”
Conclusion
In Islam, the Adhan in a newborn’s ear is a noble Sunnah, intended to introduce the child to the core tenets of the faith. However, the ultimate success in the Hereafter is determined by a person’s deeds and actions throughout their life. Both men and women, regardless of whether the Adhan was called in their ears, are equally capable of attaining great rewards through their righteousness and devotion to Allah.
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