I have a small newborn child who was six days old. He passed away one day before the 'aqiqah sacrifice. I was not present at the time of burial, so he was buried without the funeral prayer being performed over him, and I did not give him a name.
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh says: I have a small newborn child who was six days old. He passed away one day before the 'aqiqah sacrifice. I was not present at the time of burial, so he was buried without the funeral prayer being performed over him, and I did not give him a name. Is there anything required of me in this matter? If there is, what should I do now, given that three years have passed?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
It is obligatory regarding this child that he be washed, shrouded, and that the funeral prayer be performed over him, whether his father is present or absent. The issue being asked about is that this child was not prayed over. I do not know whether he was washed or shrouded or not.
But in any case, regarding the prayer, if his father knows the location of his grave, let him go to his grave and pray over him, even if it is after three years. If he does not know his grave, he should pray over him as an absent person. He should pray the prayer for the absent one, because it was not possible for him to be present before the grave.
If someone were to ask: Why do you not say that he should go to the cemetery, place all the graves in front of him, and pray?
We say: We do not say this, because even if he did this, he might be facing the middle of the graves, while his son is on the right or left side, so he would not be able to face it directly. There is no way to do this except to pray over him as an absent person.
As for naming him, let him name him now, and there is no blame on him.
As for the 'aqiqah, let him perform it now, because performing the 'aqiqah on the seventh day is only a recommended practice (sunnah). If it is slaughtered on a day other than the seventh, it is sufficient. It is better for the 'aqiqah to be two sheep for a male child and one sheep for a female child. If he limits it to one sheep for a male child, it is sufficient, but the two are better.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
It is obligatory regarding this child that he be washed, shrouded, and that the funeral prayer be performed over him, whether his father is present or absent. The issue being asked about is that this child was not prayed over. I do not know whether he was washed or shrouded or not.
But in any case, regarding the prayer, if his father knows the location of his grave, let him go to his grave and pray over him, even if it is after three years. If he does not know his grave, he should pray over him as an absent person. He should pray the prayer for the absent one, because it was not possible for him to be present before the grave.
If someone were to ask: Why do you not say that he should go to the cemetery, place all the graves in front of him, and pray?
We say: We do not say this, because even if he did this, he might be facing the middle of the graves, while his son is on the right or left side, so he would not be able to face it directly. There is no way to do this except to pray over him as an absent person.
As for naming him, let him name him now, and there is no blame on him.
As for the 'aqiqah, let him perform it now, because performing the 'aqiqah on the seventh day is only a recommended practice (sunnah). If it is slaughtered on a day other than the seventh, it is sufficient. It is better for the 'aqiqah to be two sheep for a male child and one sheep for a female child. If he limits it to one sheep for a male child, it is sufficient, but the two are better.