The Muslim Hospital Bag and Birth Checklist (Printable)
Everything to pack and plan for a Muslim birth: modest clothing, dates for tahnik, who gives the adhan, prayer needs, and notes for hospital staff.
In this guide
Most hospital-bag lists cover the nappies and the phone charger. They don’t mention the prayer mat, the dates, or how to say “I’d prefer a female doctor” without feeling awkward. This guide is the Muslim edition: everything on the usual lists, plus the things that make a birth feel like yours.
The NHS suggests packing at least three weeks before your due date, because few babies arrive exactly on time. That’s a good rule wherever you live.
Your birth plan, Muslim edition
A birth plan is a short note for your midwife about what you’d like. The NHS suggests covering where you’d like to give birth, pain relief, who you’d like with you, skin-to-skin and how you plan to feed your baby. You can add your faith needs to the same page.
Things many Muslim families include:
- Female staff where possible. Write it clearly. It’s a preference, not a guarantee, and in an emergency the right person to help is whoever is there.
- Modesty. Keeping your hair covered, a gown or long top, as few people in the room as needed, and knocking before entering.
- Students and trainees. You can say whether you are happy for students to be present.
- The first moments. A quiet minute after the birth for the father or a family member to say the adhan softly, if your family does this, and to make dua.
- Tahnik. That you’d like to do tahnik and will check with the midwife first.
- Food. That you eat halal, so the hospital can offer suitable meals, or that family will bring food.
- The placenta. Some families ask to take the placenta home to bury it; others leave it with the hospital. Hospital policies differ, and so do families’ views. If it matters to you, ask your maternity unit in advance and ask a scholar you trust about the Islamic side.
For mum
The usual list (adapted from the NHS):
- Birth plan and maternity notes
- Loose, comfortable clothes for labour, a dressing gown and slippers
- Nightwear that opens at the front if you plan to breastfeed
- Three changes of comfortable clothes, socks, plenty of knickers and maternity pads
- Nursing bras and breast pads
- Wash bag, hair ties, towel, your own pillow
- Snacks, drinks and a water bottle
- Phone, long charging cable, any medicines you take
The Muslim additions:
- Modest clothing: a loose long cardigan or abaya to throw on over a gown, a couple of easy hijabs or jersey under-scarves, and a front-opening top for feeding with visitors around.
- A nursing cover or large scarf, if you’d like more privacy when feeding.
- Prayer items: a light travel prayer mat and a compass app or qibla direction. Even if you won’t be praying after the birth, you may want them during early labour.
- A small dua card: a few duas you love, written out or printed, so you don’t have to remember them mid-contraction. Short Qur’anic duas for you and your baby work well.
- Qur’an or recitation on your phone, with headphones, for the long hours.
- Dates, for you as well as for tahnik.
When the pains of labour came to Maryam (peace be upon her), Allah comforted her with water and fresh dates:
Evidence · Qur’an
وَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ تُسَٰقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًۭا جَنِيًّۭا
“And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented.”
Many mothers pack dates because of this verse. What you eat and drink during labour is a question for your midwife.
For baby
- Vests, sleepsuits and a going-home outfit
- Hat, scratch mittens and socks
- Nappies, wipes or cotton wool, and muslin cloths
- A blanket, and a warm suit if it’s cold
- A car seat, already fitted in the car
- Soft dates for tahnik, in a small clean container
Tahnik is a sunnah from the very first days:
Evidence · Hadith
وُلِدَ لِي غُلاَمٌ، فَأَتَيْتُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَمَّاهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَحَنَّكَهُ بِتَمْرَةٍ، وَدَعَا لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ
“A son was born to me and I took him to the Prophet ﷺ who named him Ibrahim, did tahnik for him with a date, invoked Allah to bless him and returned him to me.” Narrated by Abu Musa (RA).
The same event is in Sahih Muslim 2145. Read more in our guide to tahnik.
For the birth partner
The birth partner is often the father, but it may be a mother, sister or friend. Their bag:
- Snacks, drinks and a change of clothes
- Phone charger and some cash or a card for parking
- Their own prayer mat, and a plan for where they’ll pray
- The list of people to call, and who calls whom
- A copy of the birth plan
Their role is bigger than carrying bags. Speak up gently for the mother’s wishes when she can’t. Keep the room calm. Make dua for her out loud if she likes that, or quietly if she doesn’t. Remind her to sip water. After the birth, protect her rest: hold the baby, manage visitors, and let her sleep.
Talking to hospital staff
Many staff, especially in Muslim-minority countries, are glad to help but won’t know what you need unless you say. A short, friendly script works best:
“Hi, just so you know, I’m Muslim. If possible I’d prefer female staff, and I’d like to keep my hair covered. After the birth, my husband would like a minute to say a short prayer in the baby’s ear. We’d also like to rub a tiny bit of softened date on the baby’s gums; is that okay with you?”
If a request can’t be met, a simple “I understand, thank you for trying” keeps everyone on your side. In Muslim-majority countries much of this will be routine, but it still helps to say what matters most to you.
Praying in hospital
During pregnancy and early labour you can pray as you’re able, sitting or even lying down:
Evidence · Hadith
“Pray while standing and if you can’t, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.”
Once the baby is born and postnatal bleeding (nifas) begins, a mother doesn’t pray until it ends. Scholars differ on some details, such as praying during long labour, so ask a scholar you trust before your due date. More in our guide to nifas and the first forty days.
Printable checklist
Tick these off over the last few weeks.
Plan
- Birth plan written, with faith requests
- Female-staff and modesty preferences mentioned at booking
- Agreed who says the adhan (if you do it) and who does tahnik
- Asked a scholar about praying during labour
- Asked the hospital about halal food and a prayer room
- Help at home arranged for the first weeks
For mum
- Notes and birth plan
- Labour clothes, nightwear, dressing gown, slippers
- Modest layer and easy hijabs
- Nursing bras, breast pads, maternity pads, knickers
- Wash bag, towel, pillow
- Snacks, water bottle, dates
- Prayer mat, dua card, Qur’an or recitation and headphones
- Phone, charger, medicines
For baby
- Vests, sleepsuits, going-home outfit
- Hat, mittens, socks, blanket
- Nappies, wipes, muslins
- Car seat fitted
- Soft dates for tahnik
For the birth partner
- Snacks, drinks, clothes
- Charger, parking money
- Prayer mat
- Call list
When you get home, our guide on what to do when a Muslim baby is born walks you through the first week’s sunnahs, one gentle step at a time.
Questions parents ask
Can I ask for a female doctor during labour?
Yes, you can ask, and it helps to write it in your birth plan and mention it at booking. Most hospitals will try to respect it, but they can't always promise, especially at night or in an emergency. Scholars agree that when care is needed and a woman isn't available, receiving care from a man is allowed. Your safety comes first.
Should I bring dates to the hospital for tahnik?
Many families do. Pack a few soft dates in a clean, sealed container. Tahnik means softening a tiny piece and gently rubbing it on the baby's palate, as the Prophet ﷺ did for newborns. Check with your midwife first, use only a tiny, well-softened amount, and wait if your baby is premature or unwell.
How do I pray in hospital after giving birth?
Once postnatal bleeding (nifas) begins after the birth, a mother doesn't pray until it ends, and these prayers are not made up. During labour, before the birth, scholars discuss whether and how to pray, for example sitting or lying down. Ask a scholar you trust before your due date so you know what you'll do. Birth partners pray as normal; ask staff about a quiet room or the hospital's prayer or multi-faith room.
Sources
Written by the Rahmly team from the sources above. Our Reviewers’ sign-off for this guide is still in progress. For rulings about your own family, ask a scholar you trust.