✿ Aqiqah in Shariah, Imam Abu Hanifah’s Position, and the Ruling on Performing Aqiqah with Cow or Camel ✿
Taken from: Fatawa Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Principles, Takhreej & Tahqeeq of Narrations – p. 658
① The Shariah Ruling on Aqiqah
Aqiqah is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasized Sunnah), as is evident from the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
"مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَنْسُكَ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ ، فَلْيَنْسُكْ عَنْهُ ، عَنِ الْغُلامِ شَاتَانِ مُكَافَأَتَانِ ، وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ شَاةٌ"
“Whoever wishes to offer a sacrifice on behalf of his child, let him do so: two equivalent sheep for a boy, and one sheep for a girl.”
Reference: Sunan al-Nasa’i 7/163, Hadith 4217 (Hasan); Musnad Ahmad 2/182, Hadith 6713 (Hasan); al-Hakim 4/238, Hadith 7692 (Sahih, agreed by al-Dhahabi)
The phrase "من أحب" (whoever wishes) indicates that it is not obligatory but rather a Sunnah Mu’akkadah.
Reference: al-Tamhid by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr 4/311
Imam Malik (رحمه الله) also narrated in al-Muwatta:
“Aqiqah is not obligatory but a recommended act, and this was the practice of the people of Madinah.”
(Muwatta, Riwayah ‘Abdur Rahman bin al-Qasim, p. 158)
◈ Opinions of the Scholars
- Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله):
“All the people of Hadith, their jurists, and the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah say that Aqiqah is a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Reference: Tuhfat al-Wadud, p. 28
- Ibrahim bin Harith al-Taymi (رحمه الله):
“Aqiqah is mustahabb, even if with a bird.”
Reference: al-Muwatta (Yahya bin Yahya), 2/501, Hadith 1107 – Sahih
- ‘Aishah (RA): When advised to slaughter a camel for the Aqiqah of ‘Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr’s son, she said:
“SubhanAllah! Rather, it will be what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: two healthy sheep.”
Reference: al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 9/301 – Sahih
② Imam Abu Hanifah’s Position
Muhammad bin al-Hasan al-Shaybani narrated from Qadi Abu Yusuf, who narrated from Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله):
"ولا يعق عن الغلام ولا عن الجارية"
“No Aqiqah should be done for either a boy or a girl.”
Reference: al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, p. 534
However, this chain is not authentic, so this view cannot be firmly attributed to Imam Abu Hanifah.
Some later jurists supported this attribution, such as:
- al-Kasani in Bada’i al-Sana’i (5/69)
- Fatawa ‘Alamgiri (5/362), where it was described with a degree of dislike
It is also found in al-Muwatta attributed to Muhammad bin al-Hasan al-Shaybani (p. 88–89).
③ Analysis by Ghulam Rasool Saeedi (Barelwi Scholar)
In Sharh Sahih Muslim, he wrote:
- The authentic ahadith clearly establish the virtue and recommendation of Aqiqah. Likely, these ahadith did not reach Imam Abu Hanifah and his students, hence their opposition.
- He concluded:
“One who follows taqlid blindly should be told at least that Aqiqah is permissible, even if not virtuous. But one who follows research and hadith must say that it is Sunnah and recommended, for the Sahih ahadith prove it, and the entire Ummah has accepted them.”
Reference: Sharh Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, pp. 43, 45
④ Can Aqiqah be Done with a Cow or Camel?
Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah shows Aqiqah is only proven with sheep/goat/lamb.
There is no authentic narration proving Aqiqah with a cow or camel.
- The statement of Ibrahim bin Harith al-Taymi about a bird is hyperbolic, not literal.
- The statement of ‘Aishah (RA):
“SubhanAllah! Rather, what will be done is what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: two healthy sheep.”
Reference: al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi 9/301 – Sahih
This is clear proof that Aqiqah with cow or camel is against the Sunnah.
Thus, those who divide a cow or camel into shares (like Qurbani) and perform Aqiqah are wrong, and their act is rejected.
⚖ Conclusion:
① Aqiqah is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah proven from the authentic Sunnah.
② The attribution to Imam Abu Hanifah of opposing Aqiqah is weak and not reliable.
③ Aqiqah is restricted to sheep/goat/lamb, not cow or camel.
④ Dividing larger animals into shares for Aqiqah, as done in Qurbani, is invalid and against Sunnah.
Wallahu A‘lam bis-Sawab
