A number of things are reported to be recommended following the birth of a child, amongst them are the following:1. Bathing the baby as ghusl for him. Apparently, the one bathing the child is required to have the intention of ghusl. 2. Covering him with a white cloth, and it is disliked to use a yellow one.3. Reciting the Adhan of the prayer in the right ear and the Iqamah in the left ear.4. Placing water from the Euphrates River and a small amount of the earth of the grave of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on the top and the bottom of his mouth. If the said is not available, rain water can be used instead. Also it is recommended to place honey and date on his jaw from the outside.5. Choosing a good name for him. It was reported that the most truthful names are those which indicate servitude to Almighty Allah, like Abdullah and Abdul-Raheem. And the best names are the names of the prophets (peace be upon them) and their best is Muhammad. It has been reported also to name the baby "Ali". It is also reported that poverty does not enter a house where its residents are named Muhammad, Ahmad, Ali, Hasan, Husein, Ja'far, Talib or Abdullah, and amongst the females Fatima. It is also reported that it is recommended to name the baby boy at his birth "Muhammad" for at least seven days, and after that either continue naming him that or change it at that time.6. Cutting the hair of the baby on the seventh day, donating its weight of gold or silver to the needy.7. Circumcising the boy on the seventh day.8. The "Aqeeqah": the sacrificing of a sheep, a goat, a cow or a camel. It is better to choose a male animal for the boy and a female animal for the girl.
