The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا الْحَكَمُ بْنُ مُوسَى أَبُو صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ إِسْحَاقَ - أَخْبَرَنِي
هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَفَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ الْمُنْذِرِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُمَا قَالاَ خَرَجَتْ
أَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حِينَ هَاجَرَتْ وَهِيَ حُبْلَى بِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فَقَدِمَتْ قُبَاءً فَنُفِسَتْ
بِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِقُبَاءٍ ثُمَّ خَرَجَتْ حِينَ نُفِسَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُحَنِّكَهُ فَأَخَذَهُ
رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْهَا فَوَضَعَهُ فِي حَجْرِهِ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِتَمْرَةٍ قَالَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ
فَمَكَثْنَا سَاعَةً نَلْتَمِسُهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ نَجِدَهَا فَمَضَغَهَا ثُمَّ بَصَقَهَا فِي فِيهِ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ شَىْءٍ دَخَلَ
بَطْنَهُ لَرِيقُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ ثُمَّ مَسَحَهُ وَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَسَمَّاهُ
عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ أَوْ ثَمَانٍ لِيُبَايِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
وَأَمَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ الزُّبَيْرُ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ رَآهُ مُقْبِلاً إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ بَايَعَهُ
.
Some time was spent before we were able to find them. He (the Holy Prophet) chewed them and then put his saliva in his mouth. The first thing that entered his stomach, was the saliva of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Asma' said: He then rubbed him and blessed him and gave him the name of Abdullah. He ('Abdullah) went to him (the Holy Prophet) when he had attained the age of seven or eight years in order to pledge allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as Zubair had commanded him to do. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) smiled when he saw him coming towards him and then accepted his allegiance.
Narrated by 'Urwa b. Zubair and Fatima daughter of Mandhir b. Zubair, reported that Asma' daughter of Abu Bakr was at the time of migration in the family way with 'Abdullah b. Zubair (in her womb). She came to Quba' and gave birth to 'Abdullah at that place and then sent him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) so that he should rub his palate with chewed dates. Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) took hold of him (the child) and he placed him in his lap and then called for dates. 'A'isha said:
Context
This hadith narrates the event of Asma' bint Abu Bakr giving birth to her son, Abdullah, during the migration to Medina. After the birth, she brought the newborn to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to perform the ritual of tahnik, where he rubbed the child's palate with chewed dates. This act symbolizes the Prophet's blessings and affection towards the newborn, highlighting the importance of seeking blessings for children.
Modern Application
In contemporary society, parents often seek to name their children in a meaningful way, sometimes involving family or community traditions. The practice of tahnik, while not common today, reflects the desire for blessings and good fortune for newborns, which can be expressed through various cultural or religious ceremonies.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Blessings in Food and Etiquette of Naming because it emphasizes the significance of invoking blessings through food and the importance of naming a child appropriately.
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
And there came a company of travelers; then they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket. He said, "Good news! Here is a boy." And they concealed him, [taking him] as merchandise; and Allah was knowing of what they did.
And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before, so she said, "Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?"
This hadith is #5470 from Sahih Muslim, in the Book of The Book of Manners and Etiquette. It is graded Sahih and narrated by 'Urwa b. Zubair and Fatima daughter of Mandhir b. Zubair, reported that Asma' daughter of Abu Bakr was at the time of migration in the family way with 'Abdullah b. Zubair (in her womb). She came to Quba' and gave birth to 'Abdullah at that place and then sent him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) so that he should rub his palate with chewed dates. Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) took hold of him (the child) and he placed him in his lap and then called for dates. 'A'isha said:.
