The status of Haqiqah in the light of Sunnah

  • Dr. Zahida Perveen Head of Islamic Studies, Govt. Post Graduate Waqar Un Nisa College, Rawalpindi
  • Dr Aijaz Ali Khoso Assistant Professor,Department of Business Administration ,University of Sufism & Modern Sciences, BhitShah
  • Dr. Abdur Rehman Kaloi Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Religion and Islamic Culture, University of Sindh, Jamshoro
Keywords: Tahneek, Tasmiyah, makroh, newborn, Aqiqah

Abstract

Aqiqah, an Islamic terminology, is defined as the animal that is slaughtered on the occasion of child birth. For the child there should be aqiqah, on behalf of the child make sacrifice and remove the hair. The preferable method for Aqiqah is that it should be performed on the seventh day if not then the 14th or 21st and so on. Some scholars have said that this can be carried on till the child has become mature and say Aqiqah can be performed then. However after this period performing Aqiqah is irrelevant. Some scholars given the Fatwa that Aqiqah is valid till the day of one’s death. If someone after becoming an adult performs his own Aqiqah, according to some scholars it is not valid but according to some scholars it’s permissible as it is also understood form Fadhul Bari. The performance of Aqiqah is highly encouraged. It is to be performed by the parents or the guardians of the child. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions used to perform Aqiqah when they were bestowed with a newborn. There are many benefits in the performance of Aqiqah. One is the announcing the birth of the baby. Being bestowed a child is a great blessing from the Creator. Another purpose is inviting family members, neighbors, and friends to celebrate the blessed occasion. The poor should be included in the celebration by offering them food and meat served on this occasion. This paper discusses those issues related to aqiqah which are disputable among the respected Faqaha. These include the conditions for aqiqah, the masnoon day for aqiqah, discussion on the difference of number while sacrificing for a boy or a girl and the meaning of the statement that a child is a mortgage in lieu of aqiqah. Aqiqah is considered obligatory by some and an optional sunnah by some. Some call it recommended while yet others think it is makroh or a biddah. This article analyzes the arguments of these varied stances and sheds light on the reluctance of the Ummah to practice aqiqah. Moreover, researched- backed analysis of the status of Tahneek and Tasmiyah in Shariah has been presented in this article.

Published
2020-07-17