Are there scientific reasons or other benefits behind tahneek, rubbing a newborn's palate with a date or something sweet right after birth?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Oct 24, 2026
"Tahneek" (rubbing the palate) of a baby with dates after birth is a well-established (practice) of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The wisdom behind it is evident in the fact that it is the first sweet substance to enter the baby's body. Dates are an excellent source of glucose, which a newborn needs, and a deficiency in it can lead to serious complications such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy. It has been medically proven that tahneek of a baby with dates protects them from the risks of low blood sugar and is considered an important preventative treatment.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/4498
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 4498
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy