Title: Why do we Recite Iqaamah in the Ears of a New-born? Question: When a child is born; Azaan is recited in his/her right ear and Iqaamah in the left one. Iqaamah is basically a call/announcement for the standing of the Jamaat for Namaz . I do not understand the reason or rational behind the Iqaamah being recited in the ear of the infant. Please shed some light on this. Thanks. Jazzakallah khairun Nauman Ilyas. Pakistan Answer: The recitation of Aadaan in the right and Iqaamah in the left ear of a new born baby signifies, on the one hand, that like their respective physical contributions in the formation of the child, the parents have also, through the deliverance of God's message, initiated the transmission of their spiritual beings to the child, while on the other hand, the recitation of Iqaamah is a symbolic representation of the fact that the beginning of a life, from the perspective of our relationship with the Almighty should be construed as the beginning of the prayers. The latter aspect signifies the desire and the commitment of the parents to help and raise their child in such a manner that his whole life becomes the embodiment of obedience and worship of God, while for the child it signifies the declaration of the beginning of the prayers - his whole life. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad May 19, 2002