Sending a Child to the Mosque on the Fortieth Day to Make Sajda

Question

After the women’s major ablution following childbirth — on the fortieth day — the boy is bathed and, first of all, the child is sent to the mosque, together with sweets and the like, [with the words]: “Bring the child back after having him make sajda (prostration) in the house of Allah.” As a rule, everyone takes the child to the mosque after 40 days with the intention of [performing] the sajda ritual, although it is obvious that such a child cannot make sajda. So should this be done or not?

Answer

This custom has no basis whatsoever in the Sacred Law; it is to be abandoned.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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