When a child is born it is mutahab (desirable) for the Muslims to congratulate the parents in such a way as to make their happiness even greater. This will increase the love between the Muslims and create a strong social bond inshAllah. If for some reason one can not congratulate then they should at least pray for the newborn as the prayer of one Muslim in the favour of another Muslim is accepted by Almighty Allaah.
To guide the Muslim ummah towards this important social etiquette, Allaah Subhanahu wa Taala has mentioned it in the Holy Quraan:
“And, of course, Our messengers have had come to Abraham with good tidings; they said, ‘salam.’ He said, ‘salam’, then soon brought a roasted calf. Then when he saw their hands not coming to the food he was stricken with apprehension and feared them in his heart. They said, ‘fear not, we have come being sent to the people of Lot.’ And his wife was standing, then she laughed and We gave her the glad tidings of Isaac, and after Isaac of Jacob.”
(sura Hood 69-71)
“The angels then called to him, when he stood at salat in the hut, ‘Allaah gives you the good tidings of Yahya (John)”
(sura Aal-imraan 39)
“O Zakariyaa, We tell thee the good tidings of a child whose name is Yahya, We have not made anyone of his name before.”
(sura Maryam 7)
The Correct way of congratulating
Ibn ul Qayyim writes in his book “Tauhfat-ul-maulood”, narrating from Abu bakr bin Almunzar that he said, “We were told about Hasan Basri that once a man came to him while another man, who had recently became father of a child, was sitting with him. When he (newcomer) saw him (the father) he congratulated him thus: ‘felicitations on the rider!’ when Hasan Basri heard it, he said ‘how do you know is it a rider or a donkey?’ so the man asked what should he say, he (hasan basri) replied ‘say, may Allaah bless you in the child He has given to you, and may Allaah grant you the ability to thank Him and may he (the child) be a pious man/woman and may he get long healthy life.’
Felicitations should be given for all babies, regardless of gender. Regarding the birth of a baby girl as a lesser degree of bounty is sinful. This way the love and sympathy among the Muslim ummah would flourish inshAllah.
Please note that while giving a gift on the birth of a baby is not wrong in itself, but to make it a custom, doing Israaf (extra vagency) or imitating Kuffaar is prohibited.
(content taken from “Tarbiyet-e-aulaad fil islaam” by sheikh Abdullah Naseh Alwaan)
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