#254: Ruling on the Du`a made for the Family of the New Born

QUESTION

“Question: Congratulations to those who have children
بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ فِي الْمَوْهُوْبِ لَكَ، وَشَكَرْتَ الْوَاهِبَ، وَبَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ، وَرُزِقْتَ بِرَّهُ.
“May Allah bless you with the children that has bestowed upon you. You are also thankful towards the One The Most Giver, until he has reached a matured age, and you will be blessed with his submission”
The reply is:
بَارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَزَاكَ اللهُ خَيْرًا، وَرَزَقَكَ اللهُ مِثْلَهُ، وَأَجْزَلَ ثَوَابَكَ.
“May Allah also bless you in the ease and the difficult. May Allah reply you with the best reply, bless you as you have given me the blessing and multiply your rewards.” I learnt that this Dua and the reply is not authentically reported from the prophet but from Hassan al basri.. How true is this pls..Jazakallahu khayran”

Answer

Alhamdulillāh.

It is very true that this is not authentically recorded from the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam. And there is nothing wrong in doing or saying it though.

It is also true that it is an athar from Hasan Al-Basrī – rahimahullāh – as was recorded by Ibn ‘Adiyy in Al-Kāmil and Ibn Abī Ad-Dunya in Al-‘Iyāl.

The Ulamā mentioned there was nothing wrong with saying it to greet the one blessed with a child if one was doing that as a way of making Du’ā but not as a Hadīth or a Sunnah.

Some of the Ulamā would also pray saying:

(أسأل الله أن يتقبلها بقبول حسن وأن ينبتها نباتاً حسنا)

Citing the story of the Birth of Maryam – Alayhassalām.

Therefore, there is no hard and fast rule on this. What is most important is to make du’ā for the birth and for the parents of the birth.

Just as there are many Ahādith highlighting various wordings of Du’ā, most of which are weak.

And Allāh knows best
Bārakallāhu fīkum