Sunnah Of Pregnancy

Summary:
- Keep the news of your pregnancy private among close relatives to avoid the evil eye and envy.
- Be thankful to Allah for the gift of pregnancy and believe that He will not burden you more than you can bear.
- Follow the footsteps of the mother of Maryam and make dua for a pious child.
- The soul enters the fetus around the second trimester, so make dua for your baby's unwavering faith.
- Recite the Quran for your baby during the second trimester to create a bond with the Quran.
- Learn about sound methods of raising children and prepare for the responsibility of parenting.
- Engage in acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting (if there is no harm), giving charity, and reading Quran.
- Avoid bidah (innovations) and stick to the Quran and Sunnah.
- Stay connected with Allah through prayer and make istikharah for important decisions.
- Take care of your physical health through beneficial foods and utilize maternity leave if needed.

Having children is one of the blessings of Allah. God provides us all with different rizq (well-being), health and offsprings. All of these things are gifts from God and we should be grateful for what we are given and never complain for what we don't have.

It is sunnah to announce the birth of the child once the baby arrives but till that moment below are some beneficial practices for you and your child in sha Allah.

KEEP IT PRIVATE
If you are expecting a baby, keep thanking God for this gift and keep it private among close relatives. There is a general principle which should be paid attention to when telling others of blessings. The news should be given only to those who wish good for you and will rejoice over it, so as to ward off the evil eye and destructive envy (hasad). The evidence for that is the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Be discreet in order to achieve what you want, for everyone who is blessed is envied.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani and Abu Nu’aym; classed as sahaah by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 943.

@seymatje from Instagram wearing Print Mantel V2 during her 2nd trimester

BE THANKFUL
Be thankful to Allah for having chosen you for such a gift. The first trimester is hard for some women who suffer from nausea (morning sickness) and weakness; and the last weeks of pregnancy are exhausting:

Allah says in the Quran: “…His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness…” (Surah Luqman:14)

“…His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship…” (Surah al-Aĥqaf:15)

- even then, keep thanking Allah and believe that He will never burden you more than you can bear! He is indeed the best of planners and knows what is best for us!

FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MOTHER OF MARYAM
What a blessed mother was she who gave birth to Maryam! So why not follow her footsteps and make the same dua (supplication) she did when she was expecting as narrated in the Quran: “[Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of ‘Imran said: My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Surah Aal Imran: 35)
With this dua, renew your intention every day that this baby would be a pious servant of Allah. Insha’Allah your intentions and prayers will have a positive effect in creating an innate bond between your child and the deen (religion) of Allah!

@miss_balde from Instagram wearing Aileen Dress at her 3rd trimester 

WHEN RUH (SOUL) ENTERS YOUR BABY
It is narrated in a hadith by the Prophet (sa) that: “Each one of you is constituted in the womb of the mother for forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him…” (Bukhari)
Based on this hadith, jurists have inferred that the soul enters the foetus at around 4 months/120 days after gestation, that is, the second trimester. As you enter your second trimester, make frequent dua to Allah to pre-ordain for your baby a life of unwavering faith.

RECITE THE QURAN FOR YOUR BABY
Around the 20th week, the baby in the womb gains the ability to hear. This is a great time to create a one-on-one, exclusive bond with your unborn baby by reciting the Quran every day. The sound waves of your voice will reach your baby and what better words than the melodious Quran for your baby to hear and get familiar with. Give your child a head start in creating a relationship and bond with the Quran even before he comes in this world. This is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your child!

READ UP
Perhaps one of the things that the woman should focus on during this period is learning about sound methods of raising children, reading books on this topic or listening to useful lectures by scholars on it, whether that has to do with moral upbringing, health, psychology, pedagogy, and so on, in preparation for the great mission with which Allah has entrusted the parents, which is the trust of raising and caring for the child, so that the parents may embark upon it with knowledge and insight and achieve the best results, and attain the pleasure of Allah in this world and in the Hereafter.

@m_naima from Instagram wearing Sequine Blossom Dress at her 3rd trimester

DUAS
As for the acts of worship that the pregnant woman can do, they are all the acts of worship that the Muslim does by day and by night, such as praying, fasting (so long as there is no fear of harm), giving charity, reading Qur’aan, regularly reciting the adhkaar that are prescribed in sharee‘ah, treating people kindly, visiting relatives, taking stock of oneself, and striving to attain the best attitudes, actions and words.

AVOID BIDAH
There are many fabricated duas, hadith and practices for pregnant women . Stay away from any innovation and always refer to the Quran and Sunnah. Sahaba women in time of Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do anything special rather then taking care of themselves and their unborn child and doing regular worldly and religious duties.

FOOD AND FITNESS
Meditation through prayer: Many people will guide you towards yoga and meditation, which are a great way to relax your overworked body. However remember that prayer is the best form of meditation and it will calm you and soothe your baby as well.
Keep checking in with Allah: Stay connected with Allah and talk to Him about your fears and difficulties. Make istikharah (guidance prayer) for all decisions, especially when choosing your doctor and your delivery options. Ask Allah to grant you a safe delivery, a righteous child, and an easy transition into motherhood.
Avail the maternity leave Allah has given, if needed: The Prophet (sa) said: “Allah has relieved the traveller of half of the prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers (of the duty to fast).” (Sunan an-Nasa’i; reliable) If you feel that you are unable to fast due to weakness or any other complication, you can leave your fast without any worry. However do remember to mark it somewhere so that you don’t forget to make it up later.
Eat beneficial foods: Add honey, milk, figs, and dates to your diet as all of these have been mentioned in the Quran or the hadith for their benefits.

May Allah make your pregnancy easy, and grant you a pious child who will be sadaqah-e-jariah (continuous charity) for you. Ameen.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it necessary to announce the pregnancy to everyone?

It is recommended to keep the news of your pregnancy private among close relatives to protect against the evil eye and envy.

2. When does the soul enter the fetus?

Based on a hadith, it is believed that the soul enters the fetus around the second trimester, approximately 4 months/120 days after gestation.

3. Can I recite the Quran for my baby during pregnancy?

Around the 20th week, the baby gains the ability to hear. Reciting the Quran for your baby during pregnancy is a great way to create a bond with the Quran and familiarize your child with its melodious words.

4. Are there any specific dua or prayers for pregnant women?

There are no specific duas or prayers exclusively for pregnant women mentioned in the Quran or authentic hadith. However, you can make general supplications for a safe delivery, a righteous child, and an easy transition into motherhood.

5. Can I fast during pregnancy?

If you feel able to fast without any harm to yourself or the baby, you may continue fasting during pregnancy. However, if fasting poses a risk to your health or the baby's well-being, it is recommended to leave the fast and make it up later.

6. What foods are beneficial during pregnancy?

Foods such as honey, milk, figs, and dates have been mentioned in the Quran or hadith for their benefits. Including these in your diet can be beneficial during pregnancy.

7. Should I engage in specific exercises during pregnancy?

Consult with your healthcare provider for appropriate exercises during pregnancy. Generally, low-impact exercises, such as walking or prenatal yoga, can be beneficial for maintaining physical health during pregnancy.