The Muslim Name Giving Ceremony - Tasmiya The Muslim name giving ceremony, known in Arabic as tasmiya, has its origins in the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).
Later some local cultural practices and traditions were added to adorn and beautify this important ceremony.
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) taught us that children should be given good and beautiful names, which have positive meanings. It is one of the rights of children to be given a good name. Once a man complained to Umar, the second Caliph of Islam, about the disobedience of his son. Umar spoke to the boy about his disobedience to his father and of his neglect of his rights. The boy asked: “Hasn’t a child rights over his father? To which Umar replied: “Certainly, he should choose his mother, give him a good name and teach him the Quran.”
Names which have negative meanings should be avoided. The boy in the above story had been given the Arabic name Ju’alan, which means dung beetle or scarab.
The Quran, the primary source of Muslim guidance, the word of Allah, teaches us not to call people by offensive nicknames.
The name giving ceremony as it has developed in our local custom is symbolic. The rituals the Imam who names the child performs symbolises the five pillars on which Islam is built.
Nothing is done to symbolise the first pillar of Islam, i.e. the shahadah, the testimony of faith, because Muslims belief that all children are born pure and with a natural inclination towards belief in God/Allah and all the truths and values of Islam.
To symbolise or represent the second pillar of Islam the Imam will make the adhan (call to prayer) in the right ear of the baby and the iqama (announcement for worshippers to commence prayer) in the left ear of the child.
The third pillar of Islam, namely zakah or charity is represented by the ‘aqiqat, i.e. an animal sacrifice. The meat is used for making a pot of food and distributing it among the poor and needy. This charity is given by the child’s parents as a display of thanks and gratitude to Allah for having blessed the family with such a wonderful gift as a little baby. Muslims also believe that through this ‘aqiqat, animal sacrifice and offering to the poor, Allah will be pleased and grant His Protection to the child during his or her life.
The fourth pillar of Islam, i.e. fasting, is prescribed by what is known in Arabic as the tahmik ceremony. This means placing something sweet in the baby’s mouth. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) placed a small piece of thawed date in the baby’s mouth. Today we use a little bit of sugar.
The fifth pillar of Islam, i.e. Hajj or pilgrimage, is represented by cutting a piece of the baby’s hair. This ritual of cutting one’s hair is the ritual which releases the
pilgrim from his or her state of consecration or higher spiritual consciousness during the Hajj.
During the ceremony the Imam will also recite certain portions from the Glorious Quran, invoking Allah’s protection and blessings on the new born baby. After completing these rituals the Imam will formally pronounce the child’s name by saying the following English phrase in Arabic: “Indeed I, hereby name you ... ”
A closing dua or prayer will be recited in which the Imam will employ Allah to allow the baby to grow-up being a good Muslim. It is recommended that the name giving ceremony be done before or on the seventh day after the baby’s birth.
Sometimes members of the extended family and close friends are united to witness the baby’s name-giving. The ceremony could be accompanied by dhikr, i.e. melodious Islamic incantations. Many of the guests will bring along special gifts for the baby and good wishes for his or her future.
Muslim names are usually derived from the Arabic language. Often names are characteristics or attributes of Allah and they have to be preceded by the Arabic word ‘Abd meaning servant. For example Rahman means the Merciful One, which is an attribute of Allah and therefore the person’s name will be ‘Abdurrahman, meaning the servant of the Most Merciful. Many peoples names are given in honour of some of the great Companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), e.g. Abubakr, Uthman and Ali. Parents may also choose to give the baby’s name that of a grandparent, so that it reminds them of their ancestry. Certain names are thus very popular within certain families. Other parents choose to give the baby’s names Arabic names which have good meanings, e.g. Fahim which means understanding.
The Name Giving Procedure Step 1
Recite the adhan in the right ear, and the iqama in the left ear of the child.
Step 2
Recite the following surahs: Al-Qadr Al-Ikhlas Al-Falaq An-Nas Al-Fatihah
Step 3
Recite the Verse of the Throne – Ayatul Kursi
Step 4
Recite: inni u ‘izuha bika wa zurri yataha minash shatanirra jim
Step 5
Put something sweet into the mouth of the child, and cut some of the hair whilst reciting the salawat.
Step 6
Recite for a boy: inni sammaytuka … [name of boy]
Recite for a girl: inni sammaytuki … [name of girl]
Step 7
Make dua for the blessing of the child.