Question
Please provide some proofs for performing Adhan and Iqamah for a newborn baby.
Answer
Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (radiyallahu’anhu) – the slave of Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam)- says:
‘I saw Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) calling the Adhan in the ear of Sayyiduna Hasan when Sayyidah Fatimah (radiyallahu’anha) gave birth to him.’
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 5064 and Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1514)
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith authentic (hasan sahih).
This Hadith mentions calling the adhan in the ear, without citing which ear.
It is possible, that the ‘Ulama have taken its general meaning and advised calling the Adhan in one ear and the Iqamah in the other.
This is also supported by the practice of the illustrious Khalifah, ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdil ‘Aziz (rahimahullah); that he would call the Adhan in the right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear.
(Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, Hadith: 7985)
Imam Baghawi (rahimahullah) has also cited this habit of ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdil ‘Aziz (rahimahullah) after quoting the Hadith above. i.e, as a support for the common practice.
(Sharhus Sunnah, Hadith: 2822)
There is also a clear Hadith for this deed in ‘Amalul yawmi wal laylah of Ibnus Sunni and other books. However the chain is extremely unreliable.
(Ibnus Sunni, Hadith: 623 and Ithafus sadatil Muttaqin, vol.5 pg.386. Also see Al-Adhkar, Hadith: 876, 877)
One reason for this practice is to chase the Shaytan away, as the Adhan is proven to be effective for that purpose.
(Al-Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol.6 pg.95)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar