Birth and naming

In a minute

All three faiths treat a child as a trust from God. All three have a way to give the baby a name before God and before the community.

In Judaism the baby boy is circumcised and named on the eighth day, and a daughter is welcomed with a naming ceremony. In Christianity the baby is baptised, often called a christening, and sometimes named in the service. In Islam the first words the baby hears are the call to prayer, a date is rubbed on the palate, and on the seventh day many families name the child and hold the aqiqah.

Judaism: brit milah and simchat bat

The brit milah ("covenant of circumcision", often called a bris) takes place on the eighth day. It goes back to Abraham (peace be upon him): "he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations" (Genesis 17:12, JPS 1917). When his son was born, "Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him" (Genesis 21:4, JPS 1917).

A trained circumciser, the mohel, performs it. The sandek, often a grandfather, holds the baby. The boy is given his Hebrew name during the ceremony, and a festive meal follows. Many families set a chair aside for the prophet Elijah (peace be upon him), who is said to watch over the covenant. If the baby is unwell, the ceremony is postponed.

Girls are welcomed with a naming ceremony. Names for it include simchat bat ("rejoicing for a daughter"), zeved habat and, in Reform communities, brit ha-hayim. The ceremony is newer in form, and has no single fixed pattern. It may take place a few days or weeks after birth, often with blessings, candles and a naming. A longer-standing custom is for a girl to be named in the synagogue at a Torah reading. Orthodox, Conservative and Reform practice differ here.

Christianity: baptism and christening

Jesus (peace be upon him) was circumcised and named on the eighth day: "When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus" (Luke 2:21, WEB). Christians do not circumcise as a religious requirement, though some Eastern churches, such as the Coptic and Ethiopian, keep it as a custom. They welcome a child with baptism, following the words of Jesus: "make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19, WEB).

Most churches baptise babies. In the Church of England the parents and godparents promise to support the child, pray for them, help them make good choices and help them learn about the faith. The vicar asks everyone present to promise to support the child, and the congregation replies "With the help of God, we will." The Church of England says applause may follow, welcoming the child into the church family.

Practice differs. Catholic and Anglican baptism uses water poured or sprinkled on the head. Orthodox baptism is usually by threefold immersion, followed straight away by chrismation (anointing with holy oil) and, for the baby, Communion. Baptists and many other churches baptise believers who are old enough to choose for themselves, and welcome babies with a service of thanksgiving or dedication instead.

Islam: the first words, the date and the aqiqah

Many Muslims whisper the adhan (the call to prayer) into the baby's right ear, and the iqamah into the left, so that the first words the child hears are about the greatness and oneness of God. Hanafi scholars call this recommended. Some other scholars note that the reports behind the iqamah in the left ear are weak, and do not treat it as required. Shia Muslims also commonly do this.

The tahnik is better established. A person chews a date and rubs a little on the baby's palate. A companion reported: "A son was born to me and I took him to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) who named him Ibrahim, did Tahnik for him with a date, invoked Allah to bless him and returned him to me" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5467).

On the seventh day many families name the child, shave the baby's hair and hold the aqiqah, a gathering where an animal is sacrificed and shared. The Prophet ﷺ said: "A boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah, sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given a name" (Sunan Abi Dawud 2838, graded sahih by al-Albani). Many scholars say two animals for a boy and one for a girl, and others allow one for either. Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars treat it as a strongly recommended sunnah. The Hanafi school generally treats it as permitted and praiseworthy rather than required. One-third of the meat is usually given to the poor, and the rest to relatives and guests. Charity equal to the weight of the baby's hair is also recommended.

Circumcision of boys is customary among Muslims, with no single fixed day. Schools of law differ on whether it is required or a sunnah, so ask the family.

Common ground and honest differences

Each faith gives the child a name in a religious setting, surrounds them with prayer, and feeds the guests. Each also places responsibility on parents and wider family.

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