This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi Sahib's book Qurbani, Aqiqah, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
Reason for the Name:
There are several opinions of scholars regarding the reason for the naming of Aqiqah:
① Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, states that Aqiqah is the name of the animal slaughtered on behalf of the newborn, and there is a difference of opinion regarding its derivation.
Accordingly, Abu Ubaid and Asma'i say:
أصلها الشعر الذى يخرج علىٰ رأس المولود
"Aqiqah originally refers to the hair on the newborn's head that grows at the time of birth."
Zamakhshari, may Allah have mercy on him, and others state:
وسميت الشاة التى تذبح عنه فى تلك الحالة عقيقة، لأنه يحلق عنه ذٰلك الشعر عند الذبح
"The goat slaughtered on behalf of the newborn in the presence of birth hair is called Aqiqah, because at the time of slaughtering, this hair is shaved."
Khitabi, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
العقيقة اسم الشاة المذبوحة عن الولد، سميت بذٰلك لأنها تعق مذابحها أى تشق وتقطع
"The goat slaughtered on behalf of the newborn is called Aqiqah because (at the birth of the newborn) his veins are cut."
Reference: Fath al-Bari: 726/9.
② Shawkani, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
العقيقة الذبيحة التى تذبح للمولود، والعق فى الأصل الشق والقطع، وسبب تسميتها بذٰلك أنه يشق حلقها بالذبح، وقد يطلق اسم العقيقة علىٰ شعر المولود
"Aqiqah is the sacrifice that is slaughtered for the sake of the newborn. Originally, عق means to tear and cut, and the reason for calling it Aqiqah is that at the time of slaughtering, the throat of the sacrifice is cut; also, sometimes the term Aqiqah is applied to the hair of the newborn."
Reference: Nail al-Awtar: 140/5.
Summary of the Discourse:
The decisive statement in the discussion of Aqiqah is that the term Aqiqah applies both to the newborn's hair and the animals slaughtered on their behalf. The intended meaning of Aqiqah is to shave the newborn's hair on the seventh day after birth and to slaughter animals on their behalf.
Using the term Naseeka or Zabeeha instead of Aqiqah:
It is recommended to call the animal slaughtered on behalf of a newborn as Naseeka or Zabeeha, and it is disliked to refer to it as Aqiqah. The evidence for this is the following narration.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr رضي الله عنه states:
سئل النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عن العقيقة، فقال: لا يحب الله العقوق، كأنه كره الاسم، وقال: من ولد له ولد فأحب أن ينسك عنه فلينسك، عن الغلام شاتان مكافئتان، وعن الجارية شاة
"When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was asked about Aqiqah, he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: Allah Ta'ala dislikes disobedience (word: 'Uqooq'). It is as if the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم considered this name undesirable, and he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: When a child is born to someone and he wishes to slaughter an animal on his behalf, he should slaughter an animal on his behalf. For a boy, two goats, and for a girl, one goat."
Reference: Hasan: Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitab al-Dahaya, Bab fi al-Aqiqah: 2842. Sunan an-Nasa'i, Kitab al-Aqiqah, Bab 'an al-Ghulam Shatan: 4217. Musnad Ahmad: 182/2. Mustadrak Hakim: 238/4. Sunan Bayhaqi: 300/9.
Benefits:
① Regarding the question about Aqeeqah, the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that Allah dislikes 'Uqooq' indicates that the name Aqeeqah (the animal slaughtered on behalf of the newborn) is disliked because the root of both Aqeeqah and Uqooq is the same, meaning disobedience. In this phrase فأحب أن ينسك عنه فلينسك, it is explained that the word Aqeeqah should be replaced with Naseekah (meaning Aqeeqah should be called Naseekah).
Reference: Nail al-Awtar: 143/5. 'Awn al-Ma'bood: 46/8.
② Allama Sindi (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: "In this hadith, the intention is not to disparage Aqeeqah or to annul its obligation, rather it means that the Prophet (peace be upon him) disliked the name Aqeeqah and preferred that it be called by a better name, that is Naseekah or Dhabeehah (sacrifice)."
Reference: Sharh al-Nasa'i lil-Sindi: 498/5.
