Supplications for Easing Childbirth
The Holy Quran serves as a comprehensive source of healing, treatment, and protection. As stated by Allah, “And We send down in the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers” (Quran, Al-Isra: 82). While the Quran, in general, holds these qualities, some specific verses and sections have unique properties in terms of healing. Al-Suyuti mentions in his work “Al-Itqan”: “Most of what is mentioned regarding this is based on the experiences of the righteous.” Furthermore, it is narrated by Al-Bayhaqi from Ibn Abbas that several verses ease the childbirth process for women facing difficulties. Imam Ahmad also reported from Abu Kabsh that verse 54 “Indeed, your Lord is Allah” from Surah Al-A’raf is one of the verses that can be recited for those afflicted. Ibn Al-Qayyim noted that the initial verses of Surah Al-Inshiqaq ease childbirth if written down and then dissolved in water for the pregnant woman to drink and apply on her body. Therefore, a pregnant woman is encouraged to recite Surah Al-Inshiqaq, the verse “Indeed, your Lord is Allah,” and other parts of the Quran seeking healing, blessings, and ease. (1)
Additionally, a woman can pray as she wishes before, during, or after childbirth, according to her situation. There are no specific supplications prescribed for this circumstance, nor is there conclusive evidence that the moment of childbirth is a time of acceptance for prayers, except in cases of distress during labor, where prayer becomes urgent. The prayer of one in need is accepted, as stated by Allah: “Is He not best who responds to the one in distress when he calls upon Him and removes the evil?” (Quran, An-Naml: 62).
Among the teachings from the early scholars that facilitate the childbirth process, Ibn Al-Qayyim shares in his medical writings: “Al-Khallal reported to me that Abdullah ibn Ahmad said: I saw my father, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, write for a woman facing difficulties in her labor on a clean surface, reciting the hadith of Ibn Abbas: ‘There is no deity but Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous, Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, on the Day they see it, they will have not remained except for an evening or its morning, on the Day they see what is promised, they will have not remained except for an hour of the day. But who will perish except for the defiantly disobedient’.” Al-Khallal continues: “Abu Bakr Al-Murozi narrated that a man came to Abu Abdullah and said: ‘O Abu Abdullah, write down for a woman who has faced difficulty in her labor for two days?’ He replied: ‘Bring a broad surface and saffron.’ I witnessed him writing for several women and mentioning an account from Ikrimah about Ibn Abbas stating that Jesus (peace be upon him) encountered a cow in labor, and it cried: ‘O Word of Allah, pray to Allah to relieve me from my plight.’ He responded: ‘O Creator of life from death, O Rescuer of life from death, O Deliverer of life from death, relieve her.’ She then gave birth while standing, smelling her newborn. He then indicated that if a woman experiences difficulty during labor, this should be written down.”
Many early scholars permitted writing specific verses of the Quran and consuming them, acknowledging the healing benefits prescribed by Allah. Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned: “Another text can be written in a clean container: ‘When the heaven is split open, and it has obeyed its Lord and was due to do so. And when the earth has been extended and has cast out that within it and has become empty.'” The pregnant woman can drink it and apply it to her abdomen.
While there is no strong evidence supporting specific hadiths for childbirth, general supplications facilitate the process, similar to how Zachariah called upon Allah and was heard, granting him a son, Yahya, in his old age. Allah clearly states: “And Zachariah when he called to his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me alone with no heir while You are the best of inheritors.’ So We responded to him and gave him Yahya, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive” (Quran, Al-Anbiya: 89-90). (2)
Moments of Accepted Supplications
There are certain moments in which Allah responds to the supplications made, including but not limited to: (3)
- Supplications made during prostration. As reported in Sahih Muslim and other collections, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Know that I have been forbidden to recite the Quran in a state of bowing or prostration. During bowing, glorify Allah, and during prostration, exert yourselves in supplication, for it is most likely to be accepted.”
- Supplications made during the hour of acceptance on Fridays. In the authentic collections and narrated by Abu Huraira, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned: “There is an hour on Friday, and no Muslim servant asks Allah for something during it, but He will grant it to him. He gestured with his hand to indicate it is short.”
- Supplications made in the last third of the night. It is reported in Sahih Muslim and other collections that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When a third of the night passes, Allah descends to the lowest heaven and says: ‘Is there anyone who asks Me for anything that I may grant it? Is there anyone who calls upon Me that I may respond? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness that I may forgive him?’ This continues until dawn.”
Conditions for Accepted Supplications
There are specific conditions that must be met for Allah to accept one’s supplications, including: (4)
- To sincerely invoke Allah alone, acknowledging His names and attributes with honesty and devotion, as supplication is a form of worship. Allah has declared: “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’ Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell, humbled” (Quran, Ghafir: 60). Similarly, in a Qudsi hadith: “He who commits an act associating others with Me, I abandon him and his partnership” (narrated by Muslim).
- To avoid invoking Allah in matters that involve sin or severing ties of kinship. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated: “The supplication of a servant is accepted as long as he does not call for anything sinful or for severing familial relations, provided he does not rush. It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what does it mean to rush?’ He said: ‘It is when one says: I have supplicated and supplicated, yet I do not see a response,’ thus he becomes despondent and ceases to pray.”
- To invoke Allah with a present heart, and to have certainty in the response, as narrated by Al-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim, and authenticated by Al-Albani, from Abu Huraira who reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Invoke Allah while you are certain of the response, and know that Allah does not respond to an invocation from a heedless heart.”
Essentials of Supplication
There are essential actions to be observed during supplication, which include: (5)
- To devote oneself sincerely in prayer, ensuring the intention is purified of any mixed motives, dedicating the supplication solely for Allah without any desire for fame or recognition, seeking solely the reward from Allah almighty.
- To diligently maintain one’s supplication, as this requirement is necessary for all forms of worship. Allah states: “Say, ‘I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord—let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone'” (Quran, Al-Kahf: 110).
- To have confidence in Allah Almighty, being assured that one’s supplication will be accepted and that Allah can do all things, as He states: “Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is only that We say to it, ‘Be,’ and it is” (Quran, An-Nahl: 4).
- To ensure a present heart during prayer, being humble and longing for the rewards from Allah while fearing His punishment. Allah praised Zachariah and his family saying: “And Zachariah when he called to his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me alone with no heir while You are the best of inheritors.’ So We responded to him and granted him Yahya and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive” (Quran, Al-Anbiya: 89-90).