اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزُّهُ وَاحْرُسْهُ بِعَيْنِكَ الَّتِي لَا تَنَامُ، وَاحْفَظْهُ بِحِفْظِكَ حَتَّى تَجْعَلَنِي عَنْهُ رَاضِيًا، وَاجْعَلْهُ خَلِيقًا لِخَيْرِ مَا أَرْجُو، وَاجْعَلْهُ مِنْ صَالِحِ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.
Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, honor him, guard him with Your ever-watchful eye, protect him with Your safeguard, until You make me pleased with him. Make him worthy of the best I hope for, and make him among the righteous of the community of Muhammad ﷺ.
Allahu Akbar. Allahumma a'izzhu, wahrus-hu bi 'ainikallati la tanam, wahfaz-hu bi hifdhik, hatta taj'alani 'anhu radhiya, waj'alhu khaliqan li khairi ma arju, waj'alhu min salih ummati Muhammadin sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
When to Read
This dua is recited by the father or a righteous person immediately after a child is born. The adhan (call to prayer) is traditionally recited in the right ear and the iqamah (second call to prayer, before standing for prayer) in the left ear. Tahneek, which is rubbing a date or other sweet substance on the roof of the newborn's mouth, is then performed.
How to Read
The adhan is recited in the right ear, and the iqamah in the left ear of the newborn. Following this, the recited dua can be made. The tahneek is performed by a righteous person, ideally someone known for their piety, who chews a date until soft and then gently rubs it on the palate of the baby's mouth. If dates are unavailable, other sweet substances like honey can be used. This is a practice that seeks blessings for the child's life.
Virtues & Benefits
These practices are performed to invoke Allah's blessings upon the newborn, to introduce them to the oneness of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from their very first moments, and to seek protection and righteousness for them. The act of tahneek is believed to strengthen the child's palate and prepare them for accepting the sustenance Allah provides, while also seeking the blessings associated with the Prophet's ﷺ practice. It is a way of starting the child's life with a connection to their Creator and faith.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Rafi': I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when he recited the adhan to Al-Hasan bin Ali, when he was born, saying: 'Allahu Akbar.' He then said: 'O Allah, honor him, and guard him with Your eye that does not sleep, and protect him with Your safeguard which never perishes.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 5107). There are other narrations regarding tahneek where it is reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform tahneek for the newborns. For example, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that newborns were brought to the Prophet ﷺ and he would pray for them and perform tahneek. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5447)