Deciding on a child's surname and Islamic birth rituals?
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Salaams,
I am new to free-minds and progressive Muslims and wanted to ask what you know about Qur'anic teachings regarding Islamic birth rituals; i.e. shaving the baby's head and giving it away in gold, reciting adhan in its ear, sacrificing a goat for a girl and two goats for a boy, etc etc? Where are all these from? I would like to learn as much as possible as I am pregnant with my first child. Also, we are thinking of a joint surname for the child - i.e. the child will carry both our forenames as its joint surname - i know this is not very traditional or patriarchal but i dont want my child to carry either my surname or my husband's (one because they are from our fathers and not our unique identity and two because neither of us changed our surname at marriage). I don't see why lineage should be determined by the father's surname as is still tradition here in Britain - I don't agree with it as that child does not belong to either of our father's so shouldn't have any of their names - what are your views on this??
Thanks!
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peace,
i.e. shaving the baby's head and giving it away in gold, reciting adhan in its ear, sacrificing a goat for a girl and two goats for a boy, etc etc? Where are all these from?
They are from tradition, culture or Ahadith. I have not read anything like that in The Quran.
As for naming a child, from my studies, a good name* that is mutually agreed upon by the parents would be fine. One could argue there is a preference for including the father's name in some way , so your suggestion of combined forenames (father and mother) as surname seems reasonable.
*by "good name" I mean one that is not obviously negative.
If you are new to this site and some of the views discussed here, you may find the following site helpful www.StudyQuran.org
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Salaams,
I am new to free-minds and progressive Muslims and wanted to ask what you know about Qur'anic teachings regarding Islamic birth rituals
God gave us examples for many things inorder tof ollow, i think the parents should say what the wife of imarn said on giving birth to maryam
336 So when she delivered she said ?My Lord, I have delivered a female,? and God is fully aware of what she delivered, ?And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her and her progeny with You from the outcast devil.?
I don't see why lineage should be determined by the father's surname as is still tradition here in Britain - I don't agree with it as that child does not belong to either of our father's so shouldn't have any of their names - what are your views on this??
335 Name them by retaining their fathers` names. That is more just with God. But if you do not know their fathers, then, name them as your brothers in the system and your patrons. There is no sin upon you if you make a mistake in this respect; but you will be responsible for what your hearts deliberately intend. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
