Fatwa ID: 01325
Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Question:
My son was born on 8.9.12. He has been in hospital since as he was premature by 2 months is it ok to do his akikah on 19th or 25/26th of this month. My circumstance was difficult as a female to organise akikah as I have been unwell to do so. My husband is available to do it on these dates now the baby is stable at home. We couldn't do it sooner as we have little help from family.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
The performance of aqiqah is highly encouraged. It is to be performed by the parents or the guardian of the child.
The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said that a child is pledged to its aqiqah which is sacrificed on behalf of the child on the seventh day when it is given a name and the hair is shaved off its head. (Sunan Tirmizi p.278 v.1)
Aqiqah should be performed on the seventh day of the birth of the child and if not done on the seventh day then whenever it is done, it should be on the next seventh day and so on. (Ibid)
One can do aqiqah even though the child has reached puberty. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.536 v.7) Similarly, scholars like Molana Anwar Shah Kashmiri is of the view that aqiqah can be done even up to ones death. (Faidhul Bari p.337 v.4)
Regarding your situation, you can perform an Aqiqah but it has to be separate from the Qurbani share. For example, if you are sacrificing one sheep for Qurbani, then it is desirable to sacrifice another two sheep’s for aqiqah. (You can suffice on one as well) If you are sacrificing a cow or camel then as it is permissible to have up to seven shares in a cow or camel then you could allocate one share for the Qurbani and one for the aqiqah. (Kifayatl Mufti p.242 v.8)
The conclusion to your question is that it will be permissible for you to do the Aqiqah approximately six weeks after the birth of the child.
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
