#121: Ruling on the Cutting the Hair of the New Born

“Assalaamu Alaykum…Am the one bathing my neighbor`s new born baby, what if she says because of cold she might not barb the baby’s hair after the eight days, can I continue to bath the baby knowing that the hair of the baby should be barbed after 8 days or does it become najasa. Though I don’t know whether am correct or not on the issue that if after 8days the hair is not barb the baby becomes najasa”_

*ANSWER*

Wa alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh

The shaving of the entire hair of the new born and making Sadaqah with its equivalent in weight is a Sunnah that is confirmed and practiced.

Imām Mālik recorded in the Muwatta from Ja’afar Ibn Muhammad from his father saying:

: وزنت فاطمة رضي الله عنها شعر الحسن والحسين، وزينب وأم كلثوم، فتصدقت بزنة ذلك فضة

“Fatima – radiyallāhu anha – measured the weight of the hairs of Alhassan and Alhussain, and Zaynab and Ummu Kulthum, and then made Sadaqah with silver in its equivalent.”

Imām Khalīl – rahimahullāh – said in the Mukhtasar:

(والتصدق بزنة شعره)

_”And to make Sadaqah with the equivalent weight of its hairs.”_

Imām Al-Kharshī – rahimahullāh – said in his Sharh:

: يستحب أن يتصدق بوزن شعر المولود ذهباً أو فضة

_”And it is prefered that he makes Sadaqah with the weight of the new born’s hairs in equivalent of Gold or Silver.”_

However, there is no obligation in not practicing it on the seventh day as some people believe.

Rather, if there is some fear that necessitates its delay to a later time, there is no wrong in that.

Imām Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami Ash-Shāfi’ī – rahimahullāh – said in the Tuhfah:

مَنْ لَمْ يُفْعَلْ بِشَعْرِهِ مَا ذَكَرَهُ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ كَمَا قَالَهُ الزَّرْكَشِيُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ هُوَ بِهِ بَعْدَ بُلُوغِهِ

_”Whosoever such was not done on his behalf while he was young, then let him do it for himself even if he was already at a matured age as Az-Zarkashī said…”_

That said, there is no statement that mentions that the hairs become a najāsah after the 8th day as purported in the question.

Therefore, it isn’t okay for you to abandon the good work you are doing for your neighbour on that basis. Rather, you should try to encourage her to do that and if she doesn’t, continue your work of Sadaqah and expect your reward with Allah inshā Allah.

Bārakallāhu fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran.

21st Safar 1438.