The Aqiqah

It is from the Sunnah to sacrifice an animal on behalf of a newborn; this applies to both boys and girls. Just as the guardian is required to sacrifice an animal for a male child on the 7th day of his birth, the guardian is also required to do the same for a female child. However, a single goat is slaughtered on behalf of a baby girl while two are slaughtered for a boy.  

His/Her naming 

            It is also from the Sunnah to give both male and female babies good names. Just as the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would rename many of his companions due to the bad meanings or connotations of their names, he would do the same for his female companions. Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) narrated that there was a daughter of 'Umar whose name was 'Asiyah (meaning disobedient) and that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) changed her name to Jameelah (beautiful). 

           It is also commendable to take a Kunyah (title or nickname) for the child. Imam An-Nawawi said, "It is from good manners to address honorable people and those who are close to them with their kunyah. The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was nicknamed Abul-Qasim after his son Al-Qasim. It has also reached us through sound chains of narrators (from Abu Dawud and others) that 'A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said, "O Messenger of Allah, all my colleagues have kunyahs.'' The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, "Adopt a Kunyah with your son's name, Abdullah.'' Her son that is referred to here is Abdullah ibn Zubayr who was the son of her sister Asma bint Abu Bakr. Henceforth, 'A'ishah was known as Umm Abdullah. As is evident from the time of the Prophet and his companions, males and females both have equal entitlement to a Kunyah

Her share of inheritance

Allah apportioned a share of inheritance to females as He did to males. During the time of ignorance, it was customary that Arabs would refuse any share of inheritance for females. Sa'eed ibn Jubayr and Qatadah said, "The polytheists would give their wealth (left behind as estates) only to adult males and would give nothing to females and children. So, Allah revealed: 

"There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether the property is small or large -a legal share.'' An-Nisa 4:7. 

This verse implied that all parties have a right to inheritance with due acknowledgment of differences in the amount each (male and female) is entitled to, of course, in accordance with Allah's ordainment. Al-Mawardi commented in his tafseer that, "The cause of revelation of this verse is that the people, during the age of ignorance, would give the estates left behind as inheritance to only male survivors while excluding females.'' Ibn Jurayr reported from 'Ikrimah who said, "The seventh verse of Soorah An-Nisa (chapter of Women) was revealed in the case of Umm Kajjah and her daughters, Tha'labah, and Aws ibn Suwaid, all who belong to the Ansar.

        One of the two men was Umm Kajjah's husband and the other was the uncle of her children. She had come to Allah's Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) asking him, "O Messenger of Allah, my husband died and left me and his daughter as survivors.'' Her child's uncle said, "O Messenger of Allah, her children cannot ride a horse nor help the weak nor ward off the enemy. She is earned for and she cannot earn.'' It was then that this verse Soorah An-Nisa 4:7) was revealed.

"Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females.'' [1] An-Nisa 4:11.

Jabir ibn Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him), concerning the cause of revelation of the above mentioned verse, narrated that Sa'd bin Rabi's wife came to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, "Messenger of Allah, these are the daughters of Sa'd ibn Rabi' who was killed as a martyr when he was with you at the battle of Uhud, their paternal uncle has taken all of their property and inheritance leaving nothing for them, and they cannot be married unless they have some property.'' The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, 

"Allah will decide regarding the matter.'' Thereafter the verses of inheritance were revealed. The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) then sent for the girls' uncle and told him, "Give them two-thirds and their mother an eighth, and what remains is yours.''