AMANI Birth
For the Best Start in Life
BY: Aisha Al Hajjar
Copyright & Publishing
2012 Aisha Al Hajjar, All Rights Reserved.
Published by AMANI Inc. Delaware, USA
First Edition published on Kindle March 2013
Notice: The Service Mark ( SM ) symbol denotes exclusive claim to the AMANI SM name
and taglines Assisting Mothers for Active, Natural, Instinctive Birth Sm and
Advocating Motivation, Activity, Nutrition, and Islam for Girls Sm
For ease of reading, the Service Mark ( SM ) has been left out of written text.
(All writings are the original work of Aisha Al Hajjar and are based
on her personal research, experiences, and opinions; they do not
necessarily reflect the views of any other organization or publication.)
For more information visit www.amanibirth.com
Dedication
It is with all praises to !
Table of Contents
Disclaimer
Its important to note that this is not intended to be a medical reference or to replace professional care during pregnancy, labor, or birth. The purpose is to explore the natural and normal functions of birth with trust in the design of the female body to carry out this function. Each woman should consider her personal situation and medical history and work closely with her birth team to achieve the safest and best birth experience for her and her baby, wherever and with whomever it takes place.
) has given us bodies to birth and medical interventions for the rare complications that may arise. We pray that this book will be a source of confidence and encouragement to employ those interventions only when truly necessary.
We cannot stress enough the importance of good birth consumerism by women who are educated and empowered to keep control of the decisions of their birth and make the best decisions for their particular situations. You have choices in birth; not making any choice is a choice that allows someone else full control over your experience and outcome.
I am also not an Islamic scholar and there is no intended or implied (ruling or opinion) in this material. Feedback and references are welcomed for revised editions.
: get educated and choose wisely and cautiously. Your baby, your recovery, your family, and our worldwide community depend on it!
Important Islamic Teachings
One day Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) noticed a ]
Verily never will 13:11]
This ). It is important that we do our part in preparation for birth, just as for all areas of our lives.
Islamic Vocabulary
Alayhas-Salam/ Alayhis-Salm : Peace upon her/him
Alhamdulillah : Thanks to Allah
Allah: God
Allahu Akbar : Allah is the Most Great
Allahu A'lam : Allah knows
AMANI: Wishes
AMANI lil Banaat : Wishes for Girls
AMANI lil Welada Tabiaya : Wishes for Natural Birth
Ameen : Amen
astaghfirullah : May Allah forgive me!
Athan/adhan : Call for prayer
A'uthubillah : I seek protection
Ayat/Ayah : The verses of the Quran, but it can also mean proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, miracles, etc.
Bedouin: An Arab of any of the nomadic tribes of the Arabian, Syrian, Nubian, or Sahara Deserts
Bismillah : In the name of Allah
Bukhari, Muslim, Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Musnad Ahmad At-Tirmidhi, ,Ibn Majah Ahmad, Nasai: Books of authentic Prophetic narrations
fardh : Obligatory
Fatwa : A religious verdict
fiqh : Islamic jurisprudence
Ghusl : Ritual bath
Hadith/hadeeth : Narrations of the Prophet
halal : Permitted in Islam
Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiand Hanbali: School of thoughts of Islamic law
haram : Forbidden in Islam
hasanat/hasanah : Rewards
in sha Allah : With Allahs Will
iqamah : Second call to start the prayer
Islam : The true way of worshiping God, literally means peace, purity, submission, and obedience
istikharah : A prayer to ask for Allahs guidance
Jinn : supernatural spirits mentioned in the Quran who inhabit an unseen world in dimensions beyond the visible universe of humans. They are made of a smokeless and "scorching fire," and they have the physical property of weight. Like human beings, the jinn can also be good, evil, or neutrally benevolent.
Jumu'ah : Friday, but may also refer to the Friday prayer.
Kabah: The Holy Sanctuary in Makkah
Magian: A member of the Zoroastrian priestly caste of the Medes and Persians
masjid : Mosque
ma sha Allah : With Allahs Grace
Makkah: The holy city
Tuhfat al-Mawdud bi Ahkam al-Mawlud : Name of an Islamic book
Quran : Allahs revelations to the Prophet
Radiallahu Anhu : May Allah be pleased with him
"All-ahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa wajjahtu wajhi ilaika, wa fauwadtu Amri ilaika, wa alja'tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan warahbatan ilaika. La Malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika. Amantu bikitabika al-ladhi anzalta wa nabiyyika al-ladhi arsalta!
A Prayer that means: O Allah! I surrender to You and entrust all my affairs to You and depend upon You for Your Blessings both with hope and fear of You. There is no fleeing from You, and there is no place of protection and safety except with You O Allah! I believe in Your Book (the Qur'an) which You have revealed and in Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent.
Acknowledgements
All praises and thanks are to ). It is with full acknowledgment of Him that this work is submitted and I pray it is accepted and beneficial for all who read it. Anything good in this work is from Him and any error is my own.
Acknowledgments are due to Jay and Marjie Hathaway, cofounders of the ) to experience. They also served as my first teachers in the realm of natural birth professionalism and I cannot thank them enough! Additionally, acknowledgement is due to the late Dr. Bradley, upon whose work the AAHCC is based. I also hold special appreciation for Janet Carrol, my personal Bradley Method teacher during my first pregnancy.
Sincere gratitude is due to Dr. Sarah Buckley of Australia for her support of natural birth. Her work has been pivotal in my growth and her kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated!
Sincere appreciation is also afforded to Janet Balaskas, author of Active Birth . Her writing enlightened me to think beyond the work of Dr. Bradley and the AAHCC. I am also encouraged by her personal achievements in affecting change in the birthing culture of her community. She is truly an inspiration! Likewise, enough cannot be said about the inspirational writings and work of Ina May Gaskin, Jan Tritten, Dr. Marsden Wagner, and Ricki Lake. All four are a resonating voice for the midwifery model of care and support of a womans right to birth naturally. Gratitude is also extended to the numerous contributors to Midwifery Today magazine and speakers at their international conferences, where I have learned so much.
In addition to Dr. Bradley, Dr. Buckley, and Dr. Wagner, I would like to thank the many doctors who are gems amongst the rocks, who have kept my faith in the medical professionals ability to support natural birth. To name just a few, the late Dr. Thomas Brewer of the United States, Dr. Fernando Molina, of Venezuela, Dr. Hanna Abo Kassem of Egypt, and Dr. Michel Odent of France. I am sure there are many more out there and I would love to be in touch.
I cannot say enough about the fabulous growth and exposure that I have experienced through my writing opportunities on Saudi Life. In fact, extra special appreciation is due to Akhy Faraz, Dr. Rahla, Umm Zakiyyah, and the rest of the Saudi Life family for all their support and encouragement. May Allah continue to bless Saudi Life and may it be of great benefit to the community).
