The 'Aqīqa in Islamic Law: A Reconsideration
令和8年1月9日|p.10
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The 'Aqīqa in Islamic Law: A Reconsideration
JONATHAN P. BERKEY
DAVIDSON COLLEGE
INTRODUCTION
THE RITUAL OF THE 'AQĪQA IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CEREMONIES IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF A MUSLIM CHILD. IT INVOLVES THE SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS ON BEHALF OF A NEWBORN INFANT, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THEIR MEAT TO FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND THE POOR. DESPITE ITS POPULARITY, HOWEVER, THE 'AQĪQA HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED BY SCHOLARS OF ISLAMIC LAW. THIS ARTICLE SEEKS TO RECTIFY THAT SITUATION BY EXAMINING THE LEGAL DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE 'AQĪQA IN CLASSICAL AND MODERN JURISPRUDENCE.
THE 'AQĪQA IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN, BUT IT IS WELL-ATTESSED IN THE HADITH LITERATURE. ACCORDING TO TRADITION, THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD PERFORMED THE 'AQĪQA FOR HIS GRANDSONS AL-HASAN AND AL-HUSAYN, SACRIFICING TWO SHEEP FOR EACH. THIS ACT ESTABLISHED THE SUNNA (PROPHETIC EXAMPLE) FOR THE RITUAL. HOWEVER, THE DETAILS OF HOW THE 'AQĪQA SHOULD BE PERFORMED HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF EXTENSIVE DEBATE AMONG MUSLIM JURISTS OVER THE CENTURIES.
ONE OF THE KEY QUESTIONS CONCERNS THE TIMING OF THE SACRIFICE. WHILE MANY SCHOLARS RECOMMEND THAT IT BE DONE ON THE SEVENTH DAY AFTER BIRTH, OTHERS ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY, PERMITTING IT TO BE PERFORMED AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE CHILD REACHES PUBERTY. ANOTHER POINT OF CONTENTION IS THE TYPE OF ANIMAL TO BE SACRIFICED. SOME JURISTS INSIST ON SHEEP OR GOATS, WHILE OTHERS ACCEPT COWS OR CAMELS, PROVIDED THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA OF HEALTH AND AGE.