This article is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, which contains fatwas from the scholars of the Haramain. The translation is done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
"لَا أُحِبُّ الْعُقُوقَ"
("I do not like ‘Uqooq’ (which means disobedience or lack of kindness to parents).”)
[Hasan – Musannaf Abdur Razzaq (4/330)]
It appears that the Prophet (ﷺ) disliked the name Aqeeqah because of its resemblance to Uqooq (disobedience to parents).
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) then asked:
"O Messenger of Allah! If one of us wishes to slaughter an animal for his child’s Aqeeqah, what should he do?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"مَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَنْسِكَ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ فَلْيَفْعَلْ عَنِ الْغُلَامِ شَاتَانِ وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ شَاةٌ"
("Whoever among you wishes to offer a sacrifice for his child, let him do so: for a male child, two sheep; and for a female child, one sheep.")
[Authentic – Sunan an-Nasa’i (Hadith No. 4212)]
This recommendation applies specifically to the father, as he is directly addressed in the hadith. Therefore, it is not mustahabb (recommended) for anyone other than the father to perform Aqeeqah on behalf of the child.
Thus, if the father now decides to perform Aqeeqah for his remaining children, he will be rewarded. However, if he does not do so, he is not sinful, because Aqeeqah is a recommended (mustahabb) act, not an obligatory (wajib) one.
(Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Aal Al-Shaykh رحمه الله)
Question:
A wealthy man has seven children, but he has performed Aqeeqah for only two of them while neglecting the others. If he now decides to perform Aqeeqah for the remaining children, will he be rewarded for it? And if he does not perform it, will he be sinful?Answer:
Performing Aqeeqah for a male or female child is recommended (mustahabb). The evidence for this is a hadith recorded by Abdur Razzaq in al-Musannaf, narrated by Amr ibn Shu'ayb from his father from his grandfather, in which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about the legislation of Aqeeqah, and he replied:"لَا أُحِبُّ الْعُقُوقَ"
("I do not like ‘Uqooq’ (which means disobedience or lack of kindness to parents).”)
[Hasan – Musannaf Abdur Razzaq (4/330)]
It appears that the Prophet (ﷺ) disliked the name Aqeeqah because of its resemblance to Uqooq (disobedience to parents).
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) then asked:
"O Messenger of Allah! If one of us wishes to slaughter an animal for his child’s Aqeeqah, what should he do?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"مَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَنْسِكَ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ فَلْيَفْعَلْ عَنِ الْغُلَامِ شَاتَانِ وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ شَاةٌ"
("Whoever among you wishes to offer a sacrifice for his child, let him do so: for a male child, two sheep; and for a female child, one sheep.")
[Authentic – Sunan an-Nasa’i (Hadith No. 4212)]
This recommendation applies specifically to the father, as he is directly addressed in the hadith. Therefore, it is not mustahabb (recommended) for anyone other than the father to perform Aqeeqah on behalf of the child.
Thus, if the father now decides to perform Aqeeqah for his remaining children, he will be rewarded. However, if he does not do so, he is not sinful, because Aqeeqah is a recommended (mustahabb) act, not an obligatory (wajib) one.
(Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Aal Al-Shaykh رحمه الله)