AQIQAH IN ISLAM

Writen by: Mufti Farooque Darul-Uloom
Translation by: Iftkhar Khan

Introduction
The legal status of Aqiqah and its ruling is commonly misunderstood in our communities. Therefore it’s understandable to know about Aqiqah in a great detail. Aqiqah is an Arabic word which refers to those hairs found on a newborn’s head. Then later on its usage was being referred to goats which were being sacrificed for the newborn and shaving of the head. Soon the word was not just limited to the goats only but gradually started to be used for sheep as well and later on to all those animals which were being sacrificed in the name of the newborn child.

Ruling
Regarding the Hadith mentioned according to most of the scholars this does not mean it has become farad (compulsory) or Wajib (necessary) and they are also not denying its Sunnah or Mustahab.

According to Allama Zufar Uthmani, the Hanafi school of thought practices Aqiqah as Mustahab (preferable) from this the legal states of Aqiqah is much clearly understood.

Some people give such an importance to Aqiqah that they make it obligatory. These people think that who has not made an Aqiqah their Qurbani (ritual sacrifice) is not correct or acceptable however this way of thinking is entirely wrong. Because when someone has become a Sahib-e-Nisaab (financially independent) during the days of Qurbani (Ritual sacrifice), only then performing Qurbani has become a must. Regardless of if Aqiqah has been preformed or not.

And there are some people who are involved entirely in the opposite and give no such importance at all to this practice. Whilst being Sahib-e-Nisaab (financially independent) and don't even think of performing Aqiqah.

Kindly refer http://www.classicalislam.com/pages/articles/aqiqah.htm for details