How is it decided before birth whether a newborn baby will be Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Jewish?

The decision on whether a newborn baby will be identified with a particular religion, such as Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or Jewish, is typically determined by the religious affiliations and practices of the parents or the family into which the child is born. Here are some general points:

Muslim

• In Islam, a child is considered a Muslim if they are born to Muslim parents. Immediately after birth, the father or another elder family member whispers the adhan (the call to prayer) into the baby's ear, and the child is welcomed into the Muslim community. The child is expected to follow Islamic practices and traditions as they grow up2.

Christian

• In Christianity, particularly in denominations that practice infant baptism (such as Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and many Protestant denominations), a child is often baptized shortly after birth. This baptism is seen as a sign of the child's inclusion in the Christian community and is typically performed at the request of the parents or guardians1.

Buddhist

• In Buddhism, there is no formal ritual or ceremony that assigns a child to Buddhism at birth. However, children born into Buddhist families are often raised within the Buddhist tradition and may participate in various Buddhist rituals and practices from an early age. Formal commitment to Buddhism might occur later in life through ceremonies such as the Jukai (receiving the precepts) or other initiation rites2.

Jewish

• In Judaism, a child is considered Jewish if they are born to a Jewish mother or if they convert to Judaism. For boys, the Brit Milah (circumcision) ceremony is performed on the eighth day after birth, marking the child's inclusion in the Jewish covenant. Girls may have a naming ceremony in the synagogue, and both boys and girls are raised within Jewish traditions and practices2.

In general, the religious identity of a newborn is often determined by the religious practices and affiliations of their family, with various rituals and ceremonies serving to formally welcome the child into their respective religious communities.