Dua for a Newborn Baby
3 Sunnahs of Welcoming a Child
The arrival of a newborn is one of the greatest joys Allah grants, and Islam welcomes the new child with prayer and protection from the very first moments. The dua for a newborn baby seeks refuge for the little one in the perfect words of Allah, from every harm seen and unseen. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to recite this supplication over his own grandchildren, placing the most vulnerable of souls under the complete protection of Allah.
أُعِيذُكَ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
U‘īdhuka bi kalimātillāhit-tāmmati min kulli shaytānin wa hāmmah, wa min kulli ‘aynin lāmmah.
“I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah, from every devil and poisonous creature, and from every evil eye.”
This guide explains the dua for a newborn baby, the meaning of seeking refuge in the words of Allah, and three beautiful sunnahs for welcoming a child, so that every new baby is received not only with love and celebration, but with the prayer and protection of Allah from its very first day.
The Meaning of the Dua for a Newborn Baby
The dua for a newborn baby seeks refuge for the child in the perfect words of Allah, from every devil, every harmful creature, and every evil eye. The Prophet (pbuh) used to recite this very supplication over his grandsons Hasan and Husayn, and he mentioned that the prophets before him sought refuge for their children with these same words. A newborn is utterly dependent and vulnerable, and so the believer places the child under the protection of the perfect words of Allah, a shelter that nothing can breach.
To seek refuge for a child in the words of Allah is to entrust their protection to the strongest of all guardians. A parent will do everything they can to keep their baby safe, yet true protection comes only from Allah. By reciting the dua for a newborn baby, the parent hands the child’s safety to Allah, asking Him to guard the little one from every harm, both seen and unseen.
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ
U‘idhukuma bikalimatillahit-tammati min kulli shaytanin wa hammah
I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah from every harm
Three Sunnahs of Welcoming a Child
The Prophet (pbuh) taught beautiful ways to welcome a newborn into the world, surrounding the child with faith from the start. These three sunnahs honour a new baby.
- Seek refuge for the child in the perfect words of Allah, as the Prophet (pbuh) did for his grandsons.
- Give the child a good name and perform the aqiqah, the sunnah offering of gratitude to Allah.
- Raise the child upon the remembrance of Allah, beginning a life rooted in faith.
Welcoming New Life with Faith
A newborn enters the world entirely dependent on the care of others, and Islam teaches the believer to surround that new life with faith from its very first breath. The dua for a newborn baby places the child under the protection of Allah, while the sunnahs of naming and the aqiqah welcome the baby with gratitude and good intention. The parent does all they can to care for the child, while entrusting their ultimate protection to the One who created them.
This supplication pairs naturally with the tahneek dua performed in the early days, and the dua for children that prays for righteous offspring. Together they welcome a new baby with the prayer, protection and blessing of Allah from the very beginning of life.
A newborn is welcomed into the world under the protection of the perfect words of Allah. Learn the family duas with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on Facebook for a reminder of the sunnahs of welcoming a baby, and on X where readers share how they raise their children in faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua for a newborn baby is U‘idhuka bi kalimatillahit-tammah min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, seeking refuge for the child in the perfect words of Allah from every harm. The Prophet (pbuh) recited it over his grandsons.
Recite it over the child in the early days and regularly thereafter, seeking the protection of Allah for the little one. It places the vulnerable newborn under the shelter of the words of Allah.
The sunnahs include seeking refuge for the child, performing tahneek, giving a good name, and offering the aqiqah in gratitude to Allah. These welcome the baby with faith and good intention.
The aqiqah is the sunnah of offering a sacrifice in gratitude to Allah upon the birth of a child, traditionally around the seventh day. It is a way of thanking Allah for the gift of the newborn.
Yes, both parents and others can seek refuge for the child in the perfect words of Allah. The protection of Allah is sought for the baby by all who love and care for them.
Yes, the supplication explicitly seeks refuge for the child from every evil eye, which the Prophet (pbuh) acknowledged as real. Reciting it places the baby under the protection of Allah from this and every harm.