Assalamu Alaikum mamas and mamas-to-be. Congratulations to you and your family on your bun in the oven. May Allah bless you with a healthy and happy baby who lives and strives off faith and Islam.
Motherhood! A very exciting experience and something I believe most women desire and dream for, as we are born nurtures. Amidst all the excitement, shopping, and getting our homes ready for this new addition to the family, sometimes we forget our spiritual connection with that Exalted Being who has blessed us with this amazing journey.
Today I will list a few things that I personally recited during my pregnancies and labour. I advise my friends, family, and students to habitually recite these too.
No one said pregnancy and labour would be or is easy. I’ve had three children and each time I initially vowed not to revisit labour again because there isn’t any other pain like it. But if you want that cute bundle of joy in your hands, then you have to push through (no pun intended!) these nine months and labour and show yourself that “you’ve got the power!”
Let me get to the point, as I don’t want to freak you out. Here is some dua’a and some adhkaar to help you through.
1) Please remember to thank Allah for blessing you with this opportunity that many desire and don’t have. Don’t take even a split second for granted. Make it a habit of reciting:
اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْـحَمْدُ وَ لَكَ الشُّكْرُ
“O Allah, all praise and gratitude is for you”
2) Ask Allah to bless you with pious children like our beloved Prophet Zakariyah (a.s.) did:
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
“Oh Allah bestow onto me from You, pure children. Verily you are the listener of du’aas”
3) Try to make it a habit of reciting the following three surahs of the Quran everyday or at least alternate days.
- Surah Luqman –helps the baby’s brain develop
- Surah Yusuf -for beautiful physical appearance
- Surah Mariam – for ease in labour
4) In your last month recite the first five ayahs of surah Al-Inshiqaaq abundantly, as this will help with an easier delivery and labor
5) Try to recite as much salawaat and salaam on our Prophet (s.a.w.) throughout the nine months and also during delivery.
Abstain from listening to music and replace that with recitation or Quran or adhkaar, as it has scientifically been proven that the child is able to recognize certain sounds in the womb. Let’s bless our unborn child with the words of Allah (s.w.t.). Then follow that habit through post natal and you will be surprised as to how much comfort your child will get from listening to the words of Allah (s.w.t.) from as early as birth. I’ve seen it with my very own eyes.
6) Please stay away from sin, talking ill of people and slander. Try to stay pure at heart and tongue and you will see your children grow to reap the benefits.
7) Print and keep the list of dua’a for pious children (below at the end of this post) and make a habit of reciting them often. One way to do this is to tape it to the wall next to your dresser mirror and recite the dua’a (or just a couple of them if your kids or husband are impatiently waiting for you to get ready!) as you get ready in the morning.
May Allah (s.w.t.) bless you with a safe and easy pregnancy and delivery. Please keep us in your du’as if you remember. Xox.
Fatima Mulla Panchbhaya, a mother of three and resident of Toronto, Canada, pursued her advanced Islamic education in the U.K, where she graduated from a six year Islamic theology and jurisprudence course. Over the course of the six years, she completed comprehensive studies of Hadith, Quran, tafseer, aqaa’id, fiqh, Arabic grammar and academics. Over the years she has been teaching Islamic studies to sisters of various age groups in different masajid. Currently, she teaches youth and also helps with a small community Muslim youth club in her local area.