Question:
Is the Adhan (call to prayer) in the newborn’s right ear and the Iqamah (second call to prayer) in their left ear performed on the seventh day, the first day, or when exactly should it be done—may Allah bless you?
Answer:
Firstly, we must ask: Is this practice legislated (in Islam) or not? Because the source narrations regarding this are not particularly strong, especially concerning the Iqamah.
Among those scholars who classified the narrations on this matter as Sahih (authentic), they stated that it should be done at the moment of the newborn’s birth, as mentioned in these narrations. The wisdom behind this is that the very first thing to strike the child’s hearing should be the Adhan, which comprises the magnification of Allah, His Tawheed (declaration of Oneness), and the call to prayer and success. This is the rationale for it being done at the time of birth.
As for naming the newborn: if the name was already chosen and decided upon before birth, then the child is named at the time of birth. This is because the Prophet—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—came to his family one day and said: ‘A child was born to me tonight, and I have named him Ibrahim.’
However, if the name was not decided upon before birth, then it is preferable for the naming to take place on the seventh day; because that is the day on which the Aqeeqah (sacrificial offering) is slaughtered, the child’s head is shaved, and the child is circumcised if it is a male.