Re: Bismillah Ceremonies
In my family we do Ameens more frequently than Bismillahs. But I believe they are both excellent forms of encouragement.
As most of the Toronto guppies know, Ibrahim and I have not done any birthdays for Noor. By the age of four, most kids have had some sort of birthdays with many friends and relatives being invited. In fact, most of the family birthdays (first or seconds) have been large enough to be held in banquet halls with catered dinners, etc. We decided to break with tradition and have her Bismillah instead.
LB is right......the Bismillah is held when the child has reached the age of four years, four months and four days at least. The significance of this is unknown to me but I am suspicious that it has some origins in the hadees that suggests a fetus in the womb receives it's soul at four months and some days. (This is mere speculation so please, don't take it for gospel. I am still looking into the details.)
Now....whether or not reading the Holy Quran is useful as a tool in life in Arabic when you really don't understand what you are reading is besides the point for me. Ammi always said, you should use the Quran as a reference book in life, but once, just once, finish it in Arabic as that is the original language and in the event you should need to, you should be able to read and pronounce it correctly. Besides, no child at such a young age would understand the concepts addressed in the Quran even if he/she was reading it in a language he/she understood.
At the end of the day, for me the Bismillah for Noor holds the significance of an encouragement as she begins her formal education (both Quranic and academic as she will start school that same year). A celebration that will surround her with the duas of those that love her, insha-Allah.
There is more to the actual ceremony.....something to do with ladoos......