❀ ʿAqīqah on the 7th Day: If Missed, Then on the 14th or 21st ❀
By: Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai رحمه الله
❖ Introduction
Some scholars hold the view that if ʿaqīqah is not performed on the 7th day, it is no longer valid afterward. The following research is a refutation of this opinion.
It is established from authentic aḥādīth that performing ʿaqīqah on the 7th day after birth is Sunnah. However, if due to some excuse it cannot be done on the 7th day, then performing it on the 14th day, or if not then on the 21st day, is permissible according to authentic reports from the Salaf. And if it is still missed, then ʿaqīqah can be performed anytime in life when possible.
❖ Evidences
① ʿAqīqah of the Prophet ﷺ for Himself
Imām al-Ṭabarānī رحمه الله narrates from Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عق عن نفسه بعد ما بعث نبيا.
(al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ 1/298, ḥadīth 883)
This chain is ḥasan li-dhātihī and has been recorded in Mushkil al-Āthār, al-Mukhtārah, al-Muḥallā, and Kitāb al-ʿIyāl.
Scholars such as al-Ḍiyāʾ al-Maqdisī, Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, al-Haythamī, and Shaykh al-Albānī have graded this narration ḥasan.
Conclusion from this ḥadīth:
If the ʿaqīqah was missed on the 7th day, it is valid to perform it later in life — even years after, as the Prophet ﷺ did so after his Prophethood.
② The General Sunnah of ʿAqīqah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
كل غلام مرتهن بعقيقته
“Every child is pledged with his ʿaqīqah.”
(al-Muntaqā Ibn al-Jārūd: 910, sanad ḥasan)
This establishes the importance of ʿaqīqah and implies that if it is missed on the 7th day, it should still be fulfilled later.
③ Reports from the Salaf
- ʿAṭāʾ ibn Abī Rabāḥ (رحمه الله) said: If not possible on the 7th day, then on the 14th, and if not, then on the 21st. (Kitāb al-ʿIyāl 28, ḥadīth 61 – sanad ṣaḥīḥ).
- Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (رحمه الله) preferred the 7th day, but if not, then the 14th, and if not, then the 21st. (Masāʾil Ṣāliḥ ibn Aḥmad 2/210).
- Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh (رحمه الله) held the same view. (Masāʾil al-Kūsaj 2/356).
- Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله) wrote: If the 7th day passes, ʿaqīqah may be performed whenever possible in life. (al-Muḥallā 6/226).
- Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) supported this and clarified that the child remains “pledged” until ʿaqīqah is done. (Tuḥfat al-Mawdūd, p. 49).
❖ Summary of the Ruling
✿ The Sunnah is to perform ʿaqīqah on the 7th day.
✿ If missed, then on the 14th day, and if still missed, then on the 21st day.
✿ If all these days pass, ʿaqīqah may be performed anytime later in life.
✿ Declaring it invalid after the 7th day is incorrect and against authentic evidence.
❖ Benefits
- This concession removes hardship from families who cannot perform ʿaqīqah on the 7th day.
- It highlights the importance of fulfilling the Sunnah of ʿaqīqah whenever possible, even years later.
- The consistent practice of the Salaf and Imams supports flexibility in timing.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
