Question
Assalamualaikum Mufti Saheb. Someone has never done “Akikah” for their children. Can they do it now? They have 6 children. Do we have to give the names of the children for their Akikah? Please advice.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is Mustahab (preferable) to perform Aqiqa on the 7th day after the birth of the child. If this is not possible then on the 14th day. If this too is not possible then on the 21st day and so on.[i]
If a person has never carried Aqeeqah for any of his children, then he may perform it at a later stage.[ii] However, it should be noted that whilst carrying out Aqeeqah is encouraged, it is not necessary. It is a Mustahab act.[iii]
If it is within a person’s means to carry out Aqeeqah for all his six children, then he should most certainly carry it out. However, if he is not financially in such a position, then he is not required to carry out the Aqeeqah immediately. He may carry it out as and when he has the means. If due to financial constraints, one is unable to slaughter two animals for a son, slaughtering one animal will also suffice.[iv]
It is better to carry out Aqeeqah in the town or city where the children are.[v] It is not necessary to specify the names. It will suffice to give the number of children and the name of the father.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
[i] المعجم الصغير للطبراني (2/ 29)
723 – حَدَّثَنَا عَيَّاشُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجَوْهَرِيُّ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُرَيْحُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ الْخَفَّافُ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الْعَقِيقَةُ تُذْبَحُ لِسَبْعٍ , أَوْ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ , أَوْ أَحَدَ وَعِشْرِينَ» لَمْ يَرْوِهِ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ إِلَّا إِسْمَاعِيلُ تَفَرَّدَ بِهِ الْخَفَّافُ
فتاوى رحيمية 10/60 (دار الإشاعة)
[ii] فتاوى رحيمية 10/60 (دار الإشاعة)
[iii] الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (6/ 336)
يُسْتَحَبُّ لِمَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ يَوْمَ أُسْبُوعِهِ وَيَحْلِقَ رَأْسَهُ وَيَتَصَدَّقَ عِنْدَ الْأَئِمَّةِ الثَّلَاثَةِ بِزِنَةِ شَعْرِهِ فِضَّةً أَوْ ذَهَبًا ثُمَّ يَعِقُّ عِنْدَ الْحَلْقِ عَقِيقَةً إبَاحَةً عَلَى مَا فِي الْجَامِعِ الْمَحْبُوبِيِّ، أَوْ تَطَوُّعًا عَلَى مَا فِي شَرْحِ الطَّحَاوِيِّ، وَهِيَ شَاةٌ تَصْلُحُ لِلْأُضْحِيَّةِ تُذْبَحُ لِلذَّكَرِ وَالْأُنْثَى سَوَاءٌ فَرَّقَ لَحْمَهَا نِيئًا أَوْ طَبَخَهُ بِحُمُوضَةٍ أَوْ بِدُونِهَا مَعَ كَسْرِ عَظْمِهَا أَوْ لَا وَاِتِّخَاذِ دَعْوَةٍ أَوْ لَا
حاشية الطحطاوي علي الدر المختار.168/4
وهو ذبح شاة في سابع الولادة و ضيافة الناس و حلق شعر مباح لا سنة ولا واجب.
[iv] كفاية المفتي 8/242 (دار الإشاعة)
فتاوى رحيمية 10/61 (دار الإشاعة)
[v] كفاية المفتي 8/241 (دار الإشاعة)