Celebrating a certain period of pregnancy

http://www.alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?View=Page&PageID=180&PageNo=1&BookID=10 Fatwas > Muharram Fatwas > Celebrating a certain period of pregnancy

Fatwa no. 19599 Q: It is a habit of the people in my country to hold various celebrations when a woman is in her seventh month of pregnancy. These celebrations vary from one city to another. Also, after a woman gives birth, they recite the Prophet’s birth narrative. The question is: What is your opinion on this and is there any religious proof on these practices? A: Celebrating a certain period of pregnancy and reciting the Prophet’s birth narrative after delivery are both Bid‘ahs (innovations in religion) that have no basis in Shari‘ah (Islamic law). What is Mashru‘ (Islamically permissible) is to offer ‘Aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn); two sheep for the male baby and one for the female baby. The sacrificial animals are to be slaughtered on the seventh day after birth. The baby should be given a name and the head of a male newborn should be shaved. This is according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Every baby is in pledge for his ‘Aqiqah which should be sacrificed for him on the seventh day after birth, and his head should be shaved and he should be named. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also ordered that two sheep should be sacrificed for the male newborn and one sheep for the female newborn. (Part No. 2; Page No. 281) If the person is unable to do this on the seventh day, he may slaughter the sheep whenever he is able to. May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions! Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’