What is the ruling on one who delays the 'aqiqah beyond its prescribed time?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, what is your opinion of one who delays the 'aqiqah? A person told me that he has three sons and said: I have not performed the 'aqiqah for them yet, but I will slaughter for them and distribute it. And what is the meaning of the saying: or something similar? May Allah preserve you and protect you.
The Shaykh : The correct view is that the 'aqiqah is not obligatory, but it is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah), and a person should not leave it off. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If he does not find the means, let him borrow, and Allah will compensate him, for he has revived a sunnah. However, Imam Ahmad’s statement, "let him borrow," is restricted to the case where he expects to be able to repay. For example, a person whose 'aqiqah is due but who has no money, yet knows that his salary will come at the end of the month. In this case, we say: borrow and slaughter the 'aqiqah at its proper time, on the seventh day.
As for the person who does not expect to be able to repay, he should not borrow, because the 'aqiqah is a recommended practice (sunnah), and repaying a debt is obligatory.
As for one who delays it without an excuse, and his intention was to do it but he was negligent, then, if Allah wills, he will be rewarded for it, but the reward is less than if he had slaughtered it at its proper time, which is the seventh day after birth. If a person is born on a Wednesday, when is the 'aqiqah? On the Tuesday. This is a rule: the 'aqiqah is on the day before the birth. If he is born on a Wednesday, the 'aqiqah is on the Tuesday; if he is born on a Tuesday, the 'aqiqah is on the Monday; if he is born on a Monday, the 'aqiqah is on the Sunday, and so on.
The questioner : Is it better to distribute it or not?
The Shaykh : As for distribution, the original ruling is that he should distribute it and invite people to it. He should distribute some to the poor and to the neighbors and invite them, so that the sunnah is displayed and the sunnah becomes clear.
The newborn is pledged as a guarantee for his 'aqiqah
المولود مرتهن بعقيقتهThe Shaykh : The correct view is that the 'aqiqah is not obligatory, but it is a confirmed recommended practice (sunnah), and a person should not leave it off. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If he does not find the means, let him borrow, and Allah will compensate him, for he has revived a sunnah. However, Imam Ahmad’s statement, "let him borrow," is restricted to the case where he expects to be able to repay. For example, a person whose 'aqiqah is due but who has no money, yet knows that his salary will come at the end of the month. In this case, we say: borrow and slaughter the 'aqiqah at its proper time, on the seventh day.
As for the person who does not expect to be able to repay, he should not borrow, because the 'aqiqah is a recommended practice (sunnah), and repaying a debt is obligatory.
As for one who delays it without an excuse, and his intention was to do it but he was negligent, then, if Allah wills, he will be rewarded for it, but the reward is less than if he had slaughtered it at its proper time, which is the seventh day after birth. If a person is born on a Wednesday, when is the 'aqiqah? On the Tuesday. This is a rule: the 'aqiqah is on the day before the birth. If he is born on a Wednesday, the 'aqiqah is on the Tuesday; if he is born on a Tuesday, the 'aqiqah is on the Monday; if he is born on a Monday, the 'aqiqah is on the Sunday, and so on.
The questioner : Is it better to distribute it or not?
The Shaykh : As for distribution, the original ruling is that he should distribute it and invite people to it. He should distribute some to the poor and to the neighbors and invite them, so that the sunnah is displayed and the sunnah becomes clear.