Q40 :Is the aqiqah obligatory? What if a person
cannot afford to buy the sheep to slaughter? How does it affect the
child?
A40 : The aqiqah refers to a sacrifice given by a
family on the occasion of the birth of a son or a daughter. One sheep
is adequate for the aqiqah for either a girl or a boy. Relatives and
neighbors are invited, because this is a joyous occasion to be shared
with the immediate netmunity. The aqiqah is a Sunnah, which means that
it is strongly renetmended. Its time is in the early days of the birth
of the child. When we say it is strongly renetmended, this means that
it is not obligatory. If a family cannot afford to sacrifice a sheep,
then no blame is attached to it for failing to do so. “God does not
charge a soul with more than it can reasonably undertake.” This is the
translation of a Qur’anic statement. A poor family that finds it
difficult to make both ends meet is not expected to observe the aqiqah.
The child will not be affected in any way for his parents’ failure to
observe a Sunnah, even when they can afford it.
Our Dialogue ( Source : Arab News – Jeddah )