Aqiqa and Tahnik

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Aqiqa and Tahnik

The subject under discussion here deals with two important Sunnah of our beloved Prophet, related to new born babies in a Muslim family.

Tahnik

Tahnik is the process of chewing some sweet food (for e.g. dates, honey etc.) and inserting it into the baby’s mouth, rubbing the baby’s chin to train it to eat, pronouncing Adhan in the ear of a baby and giving name to the child.

The first thing to understand for us is that this whole process is called Tahnik, and we have to adopt full process to complete the Sunnah; it can’t be that we do some and leave some. Let us see some hadith supporting these acts:

Narrated Abu Musa (RA): A son was born to me and I took him to the Prophet (PBUH) who named him Ibrahim, did Tahnik for him with a date, invoked Allah to bless him and returned him to me. (The narrator added: That was Abu Musa’s eldest son).

(Hadith No. 5467, Book of Aqiqa, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7).

In another narration,

Ubaidullah bin Abi Rāfi narrated that his father said: I saw Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) say the Adhan in the ear of Al-Hasan bin Ali (RA), when he was born to Fatima (RA) – the Adhan of Salat.

(Hadith No. 1514, Chapters on Sacrifice, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 3).

Some scholars consider this hadith as weak. However, Imam Tirmidhi says that this hadith is (Hasan) Sahih, and is acted upon.

Aqiqa

Several definitions prevail about Aqiqa. According to some, Aqiqa is the hair on the head of a newly born baby. This hair is shaved and therefore comes the term Aqiqa. According to others, Aqiqa is the sacrificing of one or two sheep (or lambs or goats etc.) on the occasion of birth of a child, as a token of gratitude to Allah. So, we take both the definitions as a complete definition of Aqiqa (i.e. sacrificing an animal and shaving off the hair of the baby). In some instances, silver, equal in weight to the hair of the child, is also recommended to be given in charity, in Aqiqa, for those who can afford to do so.

Aqiqa is highly recommended Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Let us study this under different sub-headings for a proper understanding of the subject.

1. Aqiqa relieves the new born from sufferings.

Narrated Salman bin Amir Ad-Dabbi: I heard Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) saying: “Aqiqa is to be offered for a (newly born) boy, so slaughter (an animal) for him, and relieve him of his suffering.”

(Hadith No. 5472, Book of Aqiqa, Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7).

2. How early should Aqiqa be done for the new born?

Samurah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “The boy is mortgaged by his Aqiqa; slaughtering should be done for him on the seventh day, he should be given a name and his head should be shaved.”

(Hadith No. 1522, Chapters on Sacrifice, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 3).

Therefore, it is recommended to do Aqiqa by seventh day. However, if due to any reason (reasons can be many: financial constraints, lack of availability of a suitable animal etc.) one can’t do it by seventh day, he/she can do it whenever he/she is capable of doing (at an earliest) later.

This narration tells us that naming the new born (earlier discussed as a part of Tahnik) is also a part of Aqiqa. This implies that Tahnik and Aqiqa go hand-in-hand, compliment each other and are to be performed simultaneously.

3. How many animals are to be sacrificed at the time of Aqiqa?

Yusuf bin Mahak narrated that they entered upon Hafsah bint Abdur Rahman to ask her about Aqiqa. She informed them that Aishah (RA) had informed her that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) ordered them that for a boy two sheep were sufficient, and for a girl one sheep.”

(Hadith No. 1513, Chapters on Sacrifice, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 3).

The narration mentioned above tells us that Aqiqa is to be done not only for a newly born baby boy, but it is also to be done for newly born baby girl as well.

There is a consensus among all the scholars that two sheep (or any small animal like a goat or a lamb) are to be sacrificed for a boy and one sheep for a girl. Further, if a bigger animal (like a cow or a camel or a buffalo etc.) is to be sacrificed for Aqiqa, then it covers seven parts: two parts for a boy and one part for a girl. For example: a cow can be sacrificed for Aqiqa of 7 girls, but it can only be sacrificed for Aqiqa of 3 boys (& a half) or two cows can be sacrificed for Aqiqa of 7 boys.

4. Clarification of a common myth

Most of us believe that the goat or a sheep to be sacrificed for a boy should be a male sheep, and the animal to be sacrificed for a girl should be a female sheep (or a goat). This is a not correct. The gender of the animal to be sacrificed is not at all the criterion. Refer to following hadith:
Umm Kurz narrated that she asked Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) about Aqiqa. He said, “For a boy is two sheep, and for a girl is one; it will not harm you if they (i.e. the sheep) are male or female.”

(Hadith No. 1516, Chapters on Sacrifice, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Vol. 3).
Clear!

However, the important thing to remember is that the quality of animal to be sacrificed for Aqiqa should be similar to the quality of animal to be used for sacrifice on Eid Al-Adha (i.e. healthy animal). Gender is of no concern at all.

Concluding Remarks

Tahnik & Aqiqa are two highly recommended Sunnah acts associated with newly born Muslim children. It is our duty that we ensure that these Sunnah acts are done for our kids in a complete manner. And we should try to do it at the recommended stage (i.e. by seventh day) under normal circumstances.

There is no harm in arranging a gathering and inviting people over a meal as a part of celebration of Aqiqa, as eating the meat of sacrifice is allowed. But while doing so, the spirit and the sanctity of Aqiqa should be observed; and the food should also reach the people who deserve it most (i.e. the poor, and/or the orphans and/or the wayfarers etc.), along with the other invitees.

Sacrificing an animal for Aqiqa is not an obligation upon Muslims who are financially weak and cannot afford to do so. But other aspects of Aqiqa & Tahnik which do not require expenditure (like shaving off the hair, naming the child, chewing a date and putting in the baby’s mouth etc.) should be completed.

It is very sad to see that one part of Muslim population has ignored the importance & significance of Tahnik & Aqiqa, owing to their increased adoption of western culture. They pay more attention to celebrations associated with cultures of Non-Muslims (like birthdays, valentine’s day, marriage anniversaries etc.).

On the other hand, another part of Muslims (who are far from western culture) transgress the limits of religion and go to other extreme.

For them, observing death anniversaries is important; keeping the so-called sanctity of tenth, twentieth, fortieth day etc. of a death (i.e. of a deceased) is important; but Aqiqa is not so.

Let us wake up. All these anniversaries, observing of the deceased are bida’a, prohibited in Islam. Whereas, Aqiqa & Tahnik are Sunnah, recommended in Islam.

Let us live the Sunnah way.

And Allah knows best.
May Allah forgive me if I am wrong and guide us to the right path…Ameen.