بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي الـمَوْهُوبِ لَكَ، وَشَكَرْتَ الوَاهِبَ، وبَلَغَ أشُدَّهُ، وَرُزِقْتَ بِرَّهُ

Bārakallāhu lak fil mauhūbi lak...

It is very common to see our brothers and sisters making use of this expression to congratulate the parents of a newborn. Apparently, many

believe that this is the appropriate congratulatory message to be used for this occasion. However, this is NOT so and here's why:

(1) Matters of التهنئة congratulating each other over success or achievements are determined by the local customs of the people. That is, whatever

expression that the people find suitable to congratulate themselves with is permissible so long as its meaning is good and does not contradict the teachings of the Sharī'ah. Hence, "Ẹkú ewú ọmọ, ọlọhun a wò, ọlọhun yíò daasi" os allowed in the Sharī'ah.

(2) There's NO report from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم of specific wordings of congratulation on the occasion of birth of newborn. Al-Bukhārī رحمه الله narrated in his Sahīh on the authority of Asmā bint Abībakr رضي الله عنها that when she was delivered of her child, Abdullāh

she brought him to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who placed him on his laps, chewed some dates and fed him with it, then,

ثم دعا له وبرك عليه، وكان أول مولود ولد في الإسلام.

"He supplicated for him and sought Allāh's blessings for him. He was the first child born to the

Muslims (in Madīnah)."

Al-Bukhārī رحمه الله also narrated on the authority of Abū Mūsā رضي الله عنه who said:

ولد لي غلام فأتيت به النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فسماه إبراهيم، وحنَّكَه بتمرة ودعا له بالبركة، ودفعه إليَّ

"A son was born for me, so I took him to the Messenger of

Allāh who named him Ibrāhīm. He chewed some dates and put it his mouth and sought Allāh's blessings for him, then returned him to me."

(3) The expression بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي الـمَوْهُوبِ لَكَ is said to be reported from Imām Al-Hasan al-Basrī رحمه الله. However, the chain

of this report is VERY WEAK. One of its reporters is الهيثم بن جماز whose reports have been rejected by experts in Hadīth science.

(4) A sound report by Imam Tabarānī indicated that Imām Al-Hasan al-Basrī once supplicated for a man who's wife has just been delivered of a baby

saying, جعله الله مباركاً عليك وعلى أمة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم"

"May Allāh make him a blessing for you and for the Ummah of Muhammad."

This is why when Shaykh Nāsir al-Umr was asked about the authenticity of that Du'ā, he said:

هذا الدعاء الذي ذكرتم يُروى عن الحسن البصري

رحمه الله، ولم يثبت عنه بسند صحيح، بل طرقه إليه شديدة الضعف، ولا أعلم أنه روي مرفوعاً أصلاً، وإنما الذي ثبت في هذا المقام الدعاء والتبريك دون تخصيص بصيغة معينة.

"This supplication that you've mentioned is reported from al-Hasan al-Basrī rahimahuLlāh but it is NOT linked to

him through any authentic chain. The link to him is very weak. I do not know if has any link to the Prophet. What has been validly established in this situation is supplication and seeking Allāh's blessings without any specific wording."

In conclusion, any form of congratulatory message that carries a good meaning and prayer for Allāh's blessings for the newborn and its parents (in the context of the Sharī'ah) is PERMITTED to be said on this occasion.

Allāh knows best.