Adhān in the Newborn’s Ear
Weak Reports, Authentic Sunnah, and What to Avoid
The narration about giving the Adhān in a newborn’s ear is weak and cannot establish Sunnah. Therefore, it is not authentic and should not be practiced. Authentic Sunnah acts for a newborn include: naming the child, shaving the head, giving charity equal to the hair’s weight in silver, and offering ʿAqīqah. Saying the Iqāmah in the left ear has no basis and is unanimously rejected.
| Adhān in the Ear — Critical Overview | |
|---|---|
| Name and meaning | Adhān in the ear (الأذان في أذن المولود) refers to saying the call to prayer in the right ear of a newborn immediately after birth. |
| Islamic ruling | Not authentic Sunnah. The report is weak. It should not be practiced. Iqāmah in the left ear has no basis at all. |
| When it started | The practice was introduced later, based on a weak narration. The Companions did not consistently do it. |
| Where it spread | Observed in some Muslim regions as a cultural habit, but not rooted in authentic Sunnah. |
| Practices associated with it |
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Prophetic Guidance
The narration reported about giving the Adhān in the newborn’s ear is found in Abu Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, but it is weak. A weak report cannot establish Sunnah, so this act should not be done.
Instead, the Prophet ﷺ taught clear Sunnah acts for newborns: giving a good name, shaving the head on the seventh day, giving charity equal to the weight of the hair in silver, and offering ʿAqīqah.
There is no authentic report at all for saying the Iqāmah in the left ear.
Scholarly Consensus
– Scholars of hadith have graded the narration about Adhān in the ear weak.
– A weak narration cannot establish a Sunnah.
– All scholars agree that Iqāmah in the left ear has no basis and is impermissible.
The Wisdom Behind the Ruling
- Authenticity: Protecting Sunnah means relying only on sound evidence.
- Clarity: Avoiding weak narrations prevents confusion about what the Prophet ﷺ actually taught.
- Certainty: Acts like ʿAqīqah and naming are authentic and guaranteed to carry reward.
- Unity: Keeps community practice aligned with established Sunnah, avoiding cultural inventions.
Common Misconceptions
1) “It is Sunnah to give the Adhān in the ear.”
No, the hadith is weak. It cannot establish Sunnah.
2) “The Iqāmah should be said in the left ear.”
This is baseless and unanimously rejected.
3) “Avoiding it denies blessings for the child.”
Not true. Blessings come from authentic Sunnah, such as ʿAqīqah, shaving the head, and giving charity.
Contemporary Reflections
Parents often look for ways to mark the birth of a child with remembrance of Allah. The most meaningful way is to follow what is authentic: naming, shaving the head, charity, and ʿAqīqah. Adding rituals with weak or fabricated evidence is unnecessary and distracts from the certainty of Sunnah.
Conclusion
Giving the Adhān in a newborn’s ear is not an authentic Sunnah. The narration is weak and cannot establish a practice. Iqāmah in the left ear is baseless and unanimously rejected. Instead, parents should hold to the authentic Sunnah acts prescribed for newborns.
References
Primary Sources
Hadith
- Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5105: Report about Adhān in the ear is weak.
- Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī 1514: Narration of Adhān in the newborn’s ear is weak.
Secondary Sources
- Ibn Qayyim, Tuhfat al-Mawdūd, on newborn Sunnah practices.
- Ibn Bāz, Fatāwā, clarifying that Adhān is weak and Iqāmah is baseless.
- al-Albānī, Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ḍaʿīfah, grading the narration weak.