Each with its reference
Duas and sunnahs for a newborn, for the aqiqah ceremony
The words the Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for children, the prophets’ prayers for their families, and the sunnahs of the first week.
Protection for children
Words the Prophet ﷺ said over his grandsons. He used to seek Allah’s protection for al-Hasan and al-Husayn with these words, saying that Ibrahim sought protection for Isma‘il and Ishaq with them (Sahih al-Bukhari 3371):
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U‘idhukuma bikalimatillahit-tammah
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَوِّذُ الحَسَنَ وَالحُسَينَ رضي الله عنهما ((أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ)).
U‘idhukuma bikalimatillahit-tammah, min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli ‘aynin lammah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek protection for al-Hasan and al-Husayn, saying: “I seek protection for you both in Allah’s perfect words, from every devil and every poisonous creature, and from every harmful eye.”
Over one child, “U‘idhukuma” (for you both) is said “U‘idhuka” (for you).
The prayers of the prophets for their families
Duas from the Quran for parents. Zakariyya asked for good offspring (Quran 3:38), Ibrahim prayed that he and his descendants would keep up the prayer (Quran 14:40), and the believers ask for spouses and children who are a comfort to the eyes (Quran 25:74).
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةٗ طَيِّبَةًۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ٣٨
hunālika daʿā zakariyyā rabbahu qāla rabbi hab lī min ladunka dhurriyyatan ṭayyibatan innaka samīʿu l-duʿāi
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡنِي مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِيۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلۡ دُعَآءِ ٤٠
rabbi ij'ʿalnī muqīma l-ṣalati wamin dhurriyyatī rabbanā wataqabbal duʿāi
My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٖ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ٧٤
Walladhina yaquluna rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqina imama.
And those who say: “Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and our children, and make us an example to those who are mindful of You.”
The sunnahs of the first week
What the sources name for a newborn.
- Naming, on the day of birth or the seventh day (Sahih Muslim 2315).
- Tahnik with a softened date (Sahih al-Bukhari 5467).
- The aqiqah and shaving the head on the seventh day (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838).
- The hair’s weight in silver as charity (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1519).
- A good name: Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman are the most beloved to Allah (Sahih Muslim 2132).
For names with their sources, see Muslim Boy Names and Muslim Girl Names.
At the aqiqah ceremony
Ask your guests for duas. Any good dua for the child in your own words is welcome. Muslims Around the World gathers more duas for children, and its aqiqah guide covers the day in full.