Question:

1: Can a husband attend his wife while she is giving birth, or is it haram? Or who else can attend the birth ...because as we have heard that a woman cannot expose her awrah except to the doctor due to necessity?

2: As here in Australia they give you the option that husband can cut the cord, is it permissible?

3: This is sunnah to put child’s name on seventh day ...but if anyone put the name the first day....so is it against sunnah ...or they can put but don’t call the child with this name until the seventh day?

4: What are the teachings of the Sharia for a woman while she is giving birth in a country like Australia? What should she observe in front of the non-Muslim midwives and nurses regarding her pardah?

5: When should we give azan and iqaama ....the first and foremost chance we get or after giving the child the date as its sunnah?

6:  In islam should a  mother put the name of the new born or the chance should be given to the elders as we do in the Asian countries to give respect to the elders like grandfather ....and what about if the mother doesn’t like that name ... or we should ask pious elders when putting the name? What should be best opinion of your good self?

JazakAllah khair

Answer:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1) Yes, he can, as it is permissible for the husband to look at his wife's entire body (although doing so unnecessarily should be avoided as modesty is highly encouraged in Islam). It is not permissible for any other relatives to look at her awrah. She will be excused for exposing her awrah to the midwives due to necessity. In Australia, it is a good idea for the husband to be present when his wife gives birth.

2) Yes, there is nothing wrong in doing that.

3) The parents can ponder and discuss what name to give to their child before the seventh day; but formally the name should be given on the seventh day, i.e. they should start calling the baby by the chosen name from the seventh day.

4) She should request no male doctor/nurse to be present. If in spite of her request, a male doctor/nurse does attend then she will not be sinful as there is nothing she can do in the state of delivery. This is why it's good for the husband to be present there so that he can take care of such matters. 

5) Both are sunnah acts; however, we did not come across any hadith or book that mentions which one should be done first. Therefore, it will be permissible to do either of the two acts first.

6) Ideally the father and mother should name their child with mutual agreement by choosing the name themselves or by seeking the suggestion of others; however they are not obliged to accept the suggestion of others if they do not wish to do so. If they are not sure of the suitability of a particular name, they should consult a scholar.

And Allah Ta'ala knows best.

Mufti Faizal Riza
10/12/2013

Darul Ifta Australia
www.fatwa.org.au

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