(#149)
Country: New Zealand
Question
What are the rulings of aqiqah and does it have to be offered on the 7th day?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaram
We have received your query dated 31/07/2022, our response is as follows:
Please refer to the following abridged Masa’il (rulings) from Bahishti Zewar (English Translation) of Hakeemul Ummat Hadrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi rahimahullah:
1. When a boy or girl is born to a person, it is preferable to name the child on the seventh day and to make Aqeeqah. By making Aqeeqah, the child is safeguarded from all types of dangers and calamities (inshallah).
2. The method of Aqeeqah is that if a boy is born, two goats or two sheep should be slaughtered. If a girl is born, one goat or one sheep should be slaughtered. Alternatively, if one wishes to take a share in a bull that is being slaughtered for Qurbaani, then two shares should be taken for a boy and one share for a girl. Furthermore, the child’s head should be shaved, the hair should be weighed, and gold or silver equal to the weight of the hair should be given in charity. If one wishes, saffron could be applied to the child’s head.
3. If one does not make the Aqeeqah on the seventh day, one should bear in mind the next seventh day (when making the Aqeeqah in the future). The method of calculating the seventh day is that the day that the child is born, Aqeeqah should be made the following week but one day before that. For example, if the child is born on a Friday, Aqeeqah should be made on the following Thursday. If the child was born on a Thursday, Aqeeqah should be made on the following Wednesday.
4. The custom of slaughtering the animal at the exact time when the barber places his shaving machine on the child’s head is nothing but a useless custom. According to the Shariah, it is permissible to slaughter the animal either before shaving the head or after. It is not good to insist on following customs that have no basis in the Shariah.
5. The animal that cannot be used for Qurbaani cannot be used for Aqeeqah as well. If an animal is permissible for Qurbaani, it will be permissible for Aqeeqah as well[1].
6. The meat of Aqeeqah could be distributed raw, cooked, or it could be prepared as a meal and people could be invited to join in the meal.
7. It is permissible for the parents, grandparents, etc. to consume the meat of Aqeeqah.
8. A person does not have sufficient wealth. He therefore makes Aqeeqah of only one animal on behalf of his son. There is no harm in doing so. If a person does not make Aqeeqah at all, there is no harm in this as well i.e. he will not be sinful.
The Method of Slaughtering an Animal
1. The method of slaughtering an animal is that the animal should be placed on the ground with the face towards the Qiblah. The person should take a sharp knife, recite Bismillahi Allahu Akbar and cut the neck of the animal in such a manner that four veins (or passage ways) are cut off. They are: the air passage, the gullet, and the two jugular veins which are on either side of the gullet and the air passage. If only three out of these four are cut, the slaughter will be valid and the animal will be Halaal. If only two of the four are cut, the animal will be considered to be dead and it will not be permissible to consume the meat of such an animal.
2. At the time of slaughtering the person intentionally did not take the name of Allah Ta’ala. The animal will be considered to be dead and it will be Haraam to consume it. But if a person forgets to take the name of Allah Ta’ala, the animal will be Halaal.
3. It is Makruh to slaughter an animal with a blunt knife as this causes much suffering to the animal. It is also Makruh to begin skinning, cutting, breaking the hands and feet of the animal before it can become cold (meaning, before it can become lifeless). Similarly, it is Makruh to continue cutting the animal’s neck after having cut the four passage ways.
5. Slaughtering of an animal by a Muslim is permissible under any condition. This is irrespective of whether the Muslim is a male, a female, in a state of purity or in a state of impurity. In all conditions, an animal slaughtered by a Muslim is Halaal. An animal slaughtered by a non-Muslim is Haraam.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by:
Muhammad Irshad Motara
4th Muharram 1444
3rd August 2022
Checked and approved by:
(Mufti) Musayyab Sahib
4th Muharram 1444
3rd August 2022
[1] More detail on which animal can be slaughtered for Qur’bani can be found in Bahishti Zewar.
