Hindu Birth Rites Put into Islam

This page looks at certain baby rituals found in Hindu culture – like shaving the baby’s head and treating the umbilical cord in special ways – and how some Muslims copied these practices and gave them Islamic “reward” or spiritual power, even though Allah did not legislate them in the Qur'an.

1. Basic Idea of the Rituals

In some regions (for example parts of India, Pakistan and surrounding areas), Hindus have traditional ceremonies connected to a baby’s birth. Over time, some Muslims in those regions copied parts of these customs and mixed them into Islamic practice. Common examples include:

• Shaving the newborn’s hair in a particular ceremonial way and treating the hair as something sacred (offering it, throwing it in a river, burying it with special beliefs).
• Burying or throwing the umbilical cord in a river, in a “holy” place, or near the house – believing it will bring the child protection, good luck, or a blessed future.
• Adding specific prayers or promises to Allah linked to these actions as if they are part of the deen, and as if not doing them is lacking in Islam.

Again: other religions are free to follow their traditions. The question here is: Is any of this part of Islam according to the Qur'an?

2. Qur'anic Principle: Do Not Say “This Is from Allah” Without Knowledge

Allah warns very strongly against inventing things and then attaching them to Him:

“He only commands you to evil and indecency, and that you say about Allah what you do not know.” (Qur'an 2:169)

“And do not say, about what your tongues describe falsely, ‘This is lawful and this is unlawful,’ to invent lies against Allah...” (meaning from 16:116)

When someone says, for example, “If you bury the umbilical cord like this, Allah will protect your child,” but there is no verse that says this, they are speaking about Allah without knowledge.

3. How These Customs Entered Muslim Practice

In many areas, Muslims lived side by side with Hindus for generations. Naturally, people see each other’s ceremonies and sometimes imitate what looks “special” or “spiritual”. Over time, some Muslims:

• Copied the baby head-shaving ceremony style.
• Copied the umbilical cord treatment (burying, river, etc.).
• Added stories and sayings: “This will protect from evil eye,” “This brings barakah,” “This is sunnah of our elders,” etc.

Generations later, people forget the source, and now think, “This is part of Islam.” If you question it, they feel personally attacked, or say, “Our parents and grandparents did this, how can it be wrong?”

“And when it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down,’ they say, ‘No, we follow that upon which we found our forefathers.’ Even though their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided.” (Qur'an 2:170)

4. What the Qur'an Actually Teaches About Birth and Children

The Qur'an does not give any ritual about burying hair or the umbilical cord. But it does teach clear responsibilities regarding children:

• Children are a test and a blessing; we must raise them in tawheed, not in shirk or superstition.
• Parents must provide justly and not kill children out of fear of poverty (e.g., 17:31).
• We are asked to protect our families from the Fire by teaching them obedience to Allah, not by hanging our hopes on rituals (66:6 in meaning).

There is no verse promising protection or barakah through disposing of the baby’s hair or cord in a particular way. If it was important for every Muslim baby in every time and country, Allah would have mentioned it clearly. He says the Book explains many things needed for guidance.

5. Where It Becomes a Serious Innovation

There is a big difference between:

• Simple culture: “Our family likes to do X as a tradition, but we know it is not part of the deen, and we do not believe it brings reward or forgiveness from Allah.”
• Religious innovation: “Doing X is Islamic. It protects the baby, forgives sins, guarantees reward, or you are lacking as a Muslim if you don’t do it.”

The second one is what the Qur'an warns about. It falls under:

“They take their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah...” (9:31 in meaning – by obeying them in religion without evidence from Allah).

When imams, elders, or parents pressure others with these birth customs, they are effectively making new religious rules without Qur'anic authority.

6. We Will Be Questioned About These Innovations

On the Day of Judgement, Allah will not ask: “Did you bury the umbilical cord in the right place?” He will ask whether we obeyed what He revealed, avoided shirk, and stayed away from speaking about Him without knowledge.

“And fear a Day when no soul will avail another soul at all, nor will compensation be accepted from it, nor will intercession benefit it, nor will they be helped.” (Qur'an 2:123)

If we promoted these practices as “Islamic,” or made others feel sinful for not doing them, then we risk carrying the sin of misguiding people in Allah’s name.

7. Practical Advice for Muslims

• If your family keeps these rituals as “just culture,” separate them clearly from religion. Make sure children know: this is not a part of Islam, and it has no reward or protection promised by Allah.
• Do not pressure others to do these practices or label them “less Muslim” for avoiding them.
• If people insist it is from the deen, gently ask: “Which verse in the Qur'an says this?”
• Replace superstitious beliefs about hair and umbilical cord with tawheed: trust in Allah alone, raising children on His Book, teaching them to pray and avoid shirk.