Aqeeqah for a Baby Who Died Immediately After Birth: A Must?

07 October, 2018
Q Allah blessed me with a baby girl but she died when she was two hours old. Should I offer aqeeqah for her?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

1- In spite of the death of your baby girl, you are still required to offer the aqeeqah on behalf of her.

2- However, it is not necessary that people gather together for the aqeeqah meal because the infant has died. You can give some in charity, eat some, and give some as gifts.


Responding to the question, Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Muslim lecturer and author, states,

You need to offer aqeeqah for your dead baby girl due to the generality of the ruling as mentioned in various evidences including the following:

1- It was narrated by Salman ibn Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every child should have his aqeeqah [slaughtered for him]; so shed blood for him, and wipe the dirt away from him.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

2- It was narrated that Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Every child is in pledge for his aqeeqah; so slaughter [the sheep] for him on the seventh day, give him a name, and shave his head.” (Al-Tirmidh)

However, it is not appropriate to invite people to gather for the aqeeqah meal because the infant has died. Thus, you can give some in charity, eat some, and give some as gifts.

Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: www.islamqa.info