بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Q: Is it permissible to name the newborn on other than the seventh day (after birth), like naming him on the first day?
A: What has preceded within the previous narrations (quoted within the book) is the recommendation for naming the newborn on the seventh day, due to the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- ordering -on the seventh day after its birth- its naming as well as its aqiqah along with the removal of harm (shaving), just as it is reported in the narration of Sumra: “Every newborn is subject to have an aqiqah (on its behalf), sacrifice is performed for him on his seventh day (after birth), he is shaved, and given a name.”
However it is permissible to give him a name at the time of birth due to what is reported in the narration of Abu Musa where he said, “A son of mines was born, so I brought him to the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- and he named him Ibrahim and rubbed the interior of his mouth with a date.” Also in the authentic collection of Muslim, on the authority of Anas, the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said, “A child of mines was born this night and I named him after my father Ibrahim…” Also the narration of Sahl ibn Sad As-Saa’idi found within the two authentic collections, where he said, “Mundhir ibn Abi Usayd was brought to Allah’s Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- when he was born and placed on his lap while Abu Usayd sat. The Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- was preoccupied with something in front of him, so Abu Usayd told someone to removed his son from the Prophet’s lap. Afterwards the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- asked, “Where is the child?” Abu Usayd replied, “We sent him home O Messenger.” He -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said, “What is his name?” Abu Usayd replied, “His name is so-and-so.” The Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said, “No! His name is Mundhir.”
These narrations indicate the allowance as it relates to naming the newborn on the day of its birth, but what is best is to delay it if possible to the seventh day based on it being a verbally expressed sunnah.
Translated by Abu Abdil Wahid Najeeb Al Anjelesi
Source: أربعون سؤالاً في أحكام المولود