Aulād (Children) - Customs, Practices, and Ethical Instruction in Islam

Aulād (Children) - Customs, Practices, and Ethical Instruction in Islam

Etymology and Translations

• Etymology: The term “aulād” (الأولاد) comes from the Arabic root word “walad” (ولد), meaning “to give birth” or “to be born.”
• Arabic: الأولاد (Aulād)
• Turkish: Çocuklar

Qur’anic and Traditional Guidance

Absence of Specific Qur’anic Injunctions

While the Qur’an does not lay out specific injunctions regarding the birth and upbringing of children, various traditions (Hadith) and Islamic ethical texts provide considerable detail on practices and educational principles for children.

Influence of Regional Customs

In regions like India, Islamic customs regarding children have often melded with local Hindu practices, making it sometimes challenging to distinguish purely Islamic traditions from regional customs.

Birth and Early Childhood Rituals

1. Adhan and Iqamah:

   • Practice: Immediately after the birth, the Adhan (call to prayer) is recited in the infant’s right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear.
   • Purpose: This custom, rooted in the Prophet Muhammad’s actions with his grandson Hasan, serves as the infant’s first introduction to their faith.
   • Reference: Mishkāt al-Masābīḥ, Book XVIII, Chapter IV.

2. Date Ritual (Tahnik):

   • Practice: A small piece of date fruit is chewed and placed in the newborn’s mouth by the Maulawī or an elder.
   • Purpose: This is based on a Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad.

3. Distribution of Alms:

   • Practice: Alms are given, specifically silver equivalent to the weight of the infant’s shaved hair.
   • Purpose: To seek blessings and prosperity for the child.

4. Naming Ceremony:

   • Timing: Traditionally on the seventh day after birth.
   • Practice: Children are typically named after esteemed family members, saints, or names that coincide with auspicious astrological signs.
   • Reference: Mishkāt al-Masābīḥ, Book XVIII.

5. ‘Aqīqah Sacrifice:

   • Practice: A sacrifice of two goats for a boy and one for a girl.
   • Purpose: This ritual is a thanksgiving sacrifice for the child’s birth, commemorated by prayers and communal eating.
   • Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ of Abū Dāwūd, Volume II.

6. Maternal Purification:

   • Timing: On the fortieth day after birth.
   • Significance: Marks the mother’s reintegration into daily activities; symbolizes a period of recovery.

7. Bismillah Ceremony:

   • Timing: When the child can speak or at age four years, four months, and four days.
   • Practice: Recitation of “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” (“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate”) and early instruction in Qur’anic chapters.

8. Circumcision:

   • Timing: Typically in the seventh year for Sunni Muslims.
   • Significance: A traditional requirement but not obligatory until the child reaches puberty.

9. Completion of Qur’anic Recitation:

   • Significance: An important milestone, celebrated with gifts given to the child’s tutor and offerings of sweets.

Ethical Instruction in Islamic Tradition

Akhlaq-i-Jalālī (Morality of Jalālī):

• Childcare: Importance of selecting a proper nurse.
• Naming: Significance of selecting an appropriate name.
• Early Education: Emphasis on teaching ethics, restraint from vice, and religious duties.
• Commendation and Censure: Usage of praise and private correction.
• Diet and Habits: Encouraged moderation in food, abhorrence of luxury, and physical exercise.
• Behavioral Training: Developing proper conversation and respect toward elders.
• Vocational Guidance: Children should be guided into professions for which they show aptitude.
• Liberality and Virtue: Instilling values of generosity and disdain for materialism.

Books for Further Studies

• “Mishkāt al-Masābīḥ” - Translated and annotated collection of Hadith.
• “Ṣaḥīḥ of Abū Dāwūd” - Renowned Hadith compilation.
• “Akhlāq-i-Jalālī” - A classical Islamic treatise on ethics and behavior.

Takeaways and Conclusion

Understanding the customs and ethical guidelines related to child upbringing in Islam involves exploring a combination of religious traditions, regional practices, and scholarly advice from classical texts. This blend creates a nuanced approach to rearing children that encompasses faith, ethical behavior, and community involvement.

By incorporating these guidelines and traditions, Muslim communities aim to provide a comprehensive moral and religious foundation for their children, ensuring their development into responsible and devout individuals.

Conclusion

The rich traditions and ethical teachings related to children in Islam, while not extensively detailed in the Qur’an, are profoundly developed through Hadith and classical Islamic literature. These practices aim to inculcate strong moral values, religious duties, and community welfare from an early age, reflecting Islam’s holistic view of human development.