After nine months of pregnancy, during which the growing child lived in its small abode prepared for it by its Creator in a safe and stable environment, it comes out to its new life - and its much larger home and finds that Islam has laid down various practices for this joyous occasion, and a number of prescribed practices (Sunan) and manners to be observed to celebrate his or her arrival, and as a recognition of his importance and his role in life, and out of joy that he or she has joined our Muslim society.
When the child is brought into the light of this world she should greet it as the mother of Maryam (RA) greeted her daughter when she was born:
"…I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast." (Al-Imran 3:36)
And then if she finds that the child is complete and sound in its body she should praise Allah (SWT) much since this is the true blessing, not whether it is a male of a female as many people think. Therefore, our mother Aisha (RA) when a child was born in her family would not ask whether it was a boy or a girl, rather she would ask:
"Is it complete and sound?" So if she was told that it was, she would say: "All praise and thanks are for Allah, Lord of all Creation." (Al-Bukhari)
The celebrations due to the birth begin with the desirability of carrying the good news to the family of the new-born child. So this news is conveyed to the father and others i.e. the child has been born, and it will cause him great happiness and joy to hear that what he has been anxiously awaiting has arrived.
So the child is a blessing and a precious gift given to the parents, and a beautiful flower granted to them by the Granter of all blessings - He the One free of all imperfections - so it is right that whoever has been provided with a new-born child should be informed of it, and that whoever hears of it should be happy for him and congratulate him.
The Quran mentions this good news being given to a number of the Prophets who were granted the blessing of a child. He - the One free from all imperfections - gave the good news to Zakariyya (AS) of his son Yahyaa (AS) in His saying:
"Then the angels called him, while he was standing in prayer in Al-Mihrab (a praying place or a private room), (saying): "Allah give you glad tidings of Yahyaa (John)…" (Al-‘Imran 3:39)
Before this He gave the news to Ibraheem (AS) of his son Ismaa’eel (AS), with His saying:
"So We gave him glad tidings of a forbearing boy." (As-Saffat 37:101)
And it is reported that Aboo Raafi’ informed the Prophet (SAW) of the birth of his son Ibraheem, so the Messenger (SAW) gave him the gift of a slave. (Ibn Sa’d and ‘Abdul-Barr)
Since the newborn child is something good that has come to his parents, and a reason for their happiness then it is desirable for those who know about it to congratulate the parents and his near relations and congratulating a Muslim when he attains that which is pleasing is an established Sunnah - just as with marriage, at the time of ‘Eid, at the time of repentance, and on other such occasion - so the same is the case at the birth of a child. Furthermore, our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to take the newborn child and supplicate for its good and for blessing. ‘Aisha (RA) said:
"Newborn children used to be brought to Allah’s Messenger (SAW) and he would supplicate for blessing for them and rub a chewed date upon their palate." (Muslim and Abu Dawud)
I have not come across anything in the Sunnah established from the Messenger (SAW) regarding the manner of congratulating - except for the supplication for the blessing which has preceded. But it is said that a man came to al-Hasan al-Basree (RA) (Famous taabi’eee of Basarah, died in 110H) and entered upon him when there was already with him a man who had a newborn son. So the man said to him: "Congratulations for the lion." So al-Hasan said: "How do you know whether he will be a lion or a donkey?" So he said: "Then what should we say?" He said, "Say: You have been blessed in what you have been given, may you give thanks to the One who granted it, may he reach maturity and right guidance, and may you be treated well by him." In a different wording that he said to him: "May Allah make him a blessing for you and for the Ummah of Muhammad (SAW)." (Ibnul-Qayyim attributes it to Ibnul-Mudhir and as-Suyootee attributes it to Ibn’ Asaakir).
So this form of congratulations reported as being the saying of al-Hasan is beautiful in meaning and wording since it contains the seeking of good and blessings for the newborn child - which was what the Messenger (SAW) used to do with the children of the Companions.
And if someone gives congratulations with other wordings - then that is permissible and he has carried out the Sunnah by doing what was intended - and because we do not have anything particular mentioned in text, and Allah (SWT) knows best. At this point, we should also mention a very important point which is that supplication for blessing of the child when greeting his arrival is what every righteous parent would wish - so that this child may be righteous himself, beneficial to them and a blessing for his Deen and for the Ummah. But as regards supplicating that he should become doctor or an engineer, or just that he should grow up to be like his parents, then NONE OF THIS HAS ANY VALUE IN ISLAM, since if he attained that but was deprived of blessing, good and righteousness, then that would indeed be WORTHLESS.
Then, after this, the manners of greeting the newborn proceed and the prescribed practices (Sunan) by which he is welcomed into the shade of Allah’s (SWT) Deen follow on, so that he may grow up upon them and be raised in their shade right from the first breath of air which he takes in his life.
So in what follows - if Allah (SWT) wills - there will be a full explanation of these Sunnahs and the prescribed manners.
Information From Manners of Welcoming the New Born Child in Islam
By Yoosuf ibn ‘Abdullaah Al-‘Areefee
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood ibn Ronald Burbank