If the newborn dies before the seventh day
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Fatwa number ( 969 )
Q: If a newborn dies before the seventh day, is the 'aqiqah obligatory for him or not?
A: If the newborn dies before the seventh day, the 'aqiqah is still slaughtered on the seventh day; his death before the seventh day does not prevent its slaughter on that day. This is because we are not aware of any evidence in the Shari'ah regarding the timing of the 'aqiqah that indicates it is dropped if the child dies before the seventh day. The evidence indicates, by its generality, that it is prescribed upon birth and slaughtered on the seventh day. This generality covers the case in question, and we are not aware of anything that excludes it from this
generality, as mentioned previously. Specifying the seventh day for the slaughter does not imply that its prescription does not begin until the seventh day. Rather, the birth is the cause for the requirement of the 'aqiqah, and the seventh day is the best time to carry out this prescribed act. For this reason, if it is slaughtered before the seventh day, it is valid, as stated by Ibn al-Qayyim and those who agreed with him among the scholars. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: If a newborn dies before the seventh day, is the 'aqiqah obligatory for him or not?
A: If the newborn dies before the seventh day, the 'aqiqah is still slaughtered on the seventh day; his death before the seventh day does not prevent its slaughter on that day. This is because we are not aware of any evidence in the Shari'ah regarding the timing of the 'aqiqah that indicates it is dropped if the child dies before the seventh day. The evidence indicates, by its generality, that it is prescribed upon birth and slaughtered on the seventh day. This generality covers the case in question, and we are not aware of anything that excludes it from this
generality, as mentioned previously. Specifying the seventh day for the slaughter does not imply that its prescription does not begin until the seventh day. Rather, the birth is the cause for the requirement of the 'aqiqah, and the seventh day is the best time to carry out this prescribed act. For this reason, if it is slaughtered before the seventh day, it is valid, as stated by Ibn al-Qayyim and those who agreed with him among the scholars. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.