Is it permissible to name a newborn after five months have passed since their birth, if the naming was delayed due to the unavailability of sheep?
The Sunnah contains various narrations regarding the timing of naming a newborn. Some indicate the desirability of naming on the seventh day, while others point to naming on the first day of birth. The majority of scholars hold that the preferable time for naming is the seventh day. However, some Malikis, Al-Nawawi, and one view among the Hanbalis, deem it desirable to name on the first day, and likewise on the seventh day. Al-Bukhari was of the opinion that whoever intends to perform the 'aqiqah should delay the naming until the seventh day, but whoever does not intend it should name on the first day. All these opinions indicate that the matter revolves around desirability (istihbab) and permissibility (jawaz), and there is no harm in delaying the naming beyond the seventh day.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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