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Is Doing Tahneek For Newborns A Sunnah, Or Was It A Cultural Norm?
Assalamualaikum,
Could you please let me know whether performing the Tahneek (chewing dates and putting in the newborn’s mouth) is a prophetic sunnah? If so, what is the reasoning for it? There are several hadith which are generally quoted to establish the necessity of the act, but the reasoning for it is generally unclear.
From what I can understand reading the hadiths, it doesn’t seem to be an islamic directive. It seems to be a cultural practice which was known to the people then, possibly intended to instill the attributes of the person performing the Tahneek; similar to how people in the subcontinent have a student drink from the leftover cup of an imam to boost their Qur’an memorisation.
There is usually further commentary on how the Tahneek needs to be the first thing the baby tastes. However, current research has shown that breast milk is the best source of all nutritional needs that a baby requires. Putting a date (or it’s juices) in a newborn’s digestive system seems to be quiet specific and contrary to evidence.
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Is Doing Tahneek For Newborns A Sunnah, Or Was It A Cultural Norm?
updated 1 year, 11 months ago
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It was not a cultural practice either, but a way to get the blessings of the prophet for the newborn by some people. That is why no incident of Tehneek is reported from the companions apart from the prophet. This was initiated by some people to bring their newborns to the prophet and the prophet obliged them.
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