Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan hafidhuhallah was asked:

Question:

We have with us a custom [that] many people [do]. It is called a gift for the newborn and that is, if anyone is granted a newborn boy or girl, the people, when they visit them, give that newborn boy or girl a gift. The people are familiar with this. This also occurs when someone moves to a new house or gets married. So does that have an origin in the legislation of Allah, the Exalted? And does doing this action in this form [be known to be] forbidden in the legislation?

Answer:

“There is no harm in giving a newborn a gift and giving a gift to the people of a new house or for the one who gets married, except they should not exaggerate in that and it should not be obligated upon the poor who are not able. It is only an issue of choice. There is no blame in it because that is from high morals and good customs. The Prophet sallalhu alayhi wa salam said:

‏تهادوا وتحابوا

Give presents to each other and love each other

[Reported by Malik in the Muwatta and others. Graded Hasan by al-Albani in Irwaa no. 1601]

In that there is the assistance for the one who is getting married and is in need or furnishing the new house of one who is poor”.

[Muntaqa min Fatawa al-Fawzan no. 301]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan