Fatwa ID: 01743

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Someone told my sister that when a women has given birth to a child that she should put a date in the child mouth so the child taste the flavour of the date and after she has done that the women should eat that date, should she do this. 

 Answer:

Saaidah Aishah reports that “new-born children used to be brought to the Prophet of Allah and he would supplicate for blessings for them, and rub a chewed date upon their palate." (Sahih Muslim)

Takneek means to soften a date and then to rub the palate of the new-born. If date is unavailable, one may apply anything sweet, like sugar-candy or honey to the child's palate. Thereby, the sunnah will be fulfilled. (Fathul Bari p.588 v.9)

It is permissible to eat the date yourself after doing the tahneek of the new born child. However, it is not necessary for the mother to do it.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham