What is the ruling on the 'aqiqah for an adult, and if a person has several children for whom he has not performed the 'aqiqah, does he start with himself or with them?

The questioner : He says: What is the ruling on the 'aqiqah for an adult? And does the one who has several children for whom he has not performed the 'aqiqah start with himself or with them?

The Shaykh : He starts with his children; he performs the 'aqiqah for his children before anything else, because this is what is obligatory upon him. As for the 'aqiqah for himself, that was the obligation of his father. And our Lord, Mighty and Majestic, says: . So this child who has become a father to a child does not bear the burden of his father who did not perform the 'aqiqah for him at his birth. However, it is a recommended practice (sunnah), following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he performed the 'aqiqah for himself after the prophethood. So this recommended practice, if he is able to revive it after performing the 'aqiqah for his children for whom he did not perform it, and this is the order. But this is only said in the case where he was not able to perform the 'aqiqah for his children at the prescribed time, which is on the seventh day. So if he had an excuse, then on the fourteenth day, and finally on the twenty-first day. If he was able to perform the 'aqiqah for his child on these days and then did not do so out of negligence and laziness, then he has missed the act, like the one who misses the prayer outside its time. But if he was poor, or was in circumstances, for example travel or something similar that does not allow him to perform this matter, then when it becomes easy for him, he acts according to the method we mentioned above, otherwise.