Baby Showers: Permissible or Not? – Shaykh Abdul-Qaadir Al-Junayd

Questioner: As-Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullaah, Yaa Shaykh.

Shaykh: Wa Alaykum As-Salaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh;

Questioner: How are you, Shaykh?

Shaykh: Hayaakumullaah.

Questioner: Hayakumullaah. Shaykh, I asked you a question yesterday, about an issue…

Shaykh: You asked me what?

Questioner: I asked you a question yesterday about an issue, however, I wish to repeat the question for clarity.

Shaykh: Go ahead.

Questioner: The intent behind the question is as follows: What is the ruling regarding the events that are held wherein gifts are given to the parents on the occasion of a new child; it is the event which is held when the mother is within her 7^th or 8^th month of pregnancy wherein she invites the sisters, and they buy clothes for the new baby. This is something, O Shaykh, which is known within this land to be from the disbelievers. So is it permissible for the Muslim woman or no?

Shaykh: My brother, may Allaah bless you, a known custom within the lands of the Muslims is that when the woman gives birth to a daughter or son, then the people visit her to congratulate her and supplicate for this baby; and they bring some gifts with them. the women gather within the house for what occasion? (It is) the occasion of this new baby. They bring with them some food, gifts, and the like. This is known with the lands of the Muslims. Is that which is with you done in this manner?

Questioner: No, Shaykh.

Shaykh: Or is it as you mentioned, they gather a month or two months before the birth?

Questioner: Yes, like this, Shaykh. Here in America they do it when the mother is in her 7^th or 8^th month of pregnancy.

Shaykh: Na’am. This manner (of doing it) who was the first ones to do it?

Questioner: I didn’t hear you, Shaykh.

Shaykh: This manner, of doing it a month or two before (the birth); where did it come from?

Questioner: From the disbelievers in this land.

Shaykh: All of them (the disbelievers) do it in this manner?

Questioner: Ay Na’am.

Shaykh: Then if the manner is like this, then it is not permissible for the Muslim to do it because it is from the perspective of imitation (of the disbelievers). If the Muslims do it in this manner; before the birth by a two months whereas this is the custom of the disbelievers, then it is not permissible for the Muslims to do it. As for celebrating after the birth; and giving gifts for the child, then this is known amongst the Muslims as well as the non-Muslims. Clear?

Questioner: Clear, O Shaykh, may Allaah bless you. May Allaah reward you.

Shaykh: And you as well.

Questioner: As-Salaamu Alaykum.

Shaykh: Hayaakumullaah. Wa Alaykum as-Salaam

Translated By: Raha ibn Donald Batts
Question Posed On: 15 Rabi’ Ath-Thani 1434 H./Feb. 25, 2013 
Presented to you by Markaz Tawheed was-Sunnah in Durham, NC