Fatwa No : 29025
Performing Aqeeqa after the Birth of Youngest Son without Having Performed it for Older Sons

Performing Aqeeqa after the Birth of Youngest Son without Having Performed it for Older Sons

I have four sons. Due to financial restrictions, I was not able to perform the Aqeeqa for any of my sons. However, I would like to perform the Aqeeqa for my forth son. Must I firstly perform the Aqeeqa for my older sons? Secondly, until how long can the Aqeeqa be performed? Furthermore, must I make two animal sacrifices, or can I make only one, and give the value of the other animal in charity to the masjid or any Madrasa?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It is a praiseworthy act to sacrifice two animals on the 7th, 14th or 21st day after the birth of a male child. However, if one is not able to perform this sacrifice in those days, then it can be performed on any day which is in conformity with the 7th day after the birth of the child. However, it is not necessary to have already performed the Aqeeqa of the older sons in order to perform the Aqeeqa for the youngest son. In fact, one may perform the Aqeeqa of any of his children whenever he is financially capable. Similarly, he may also sacrifice a large animal (i.e. one that carries seven shares, e.g. cow/camel) on behalf of all of his sons according to the amount of shares. (Meaning: since the questioner has four sons, the six shares of the large animal can be designated for the Aqeeqa of three of his sons, since in this case, two shares will be designated for each son, and the last share along with a smaller animal (i.e. goat/sheep) will be designated for the Aqeeqa of the remaining son.)