The following answer was received by the UK Agency on 29th Oct 2020, from the Jurisprudential Committee in Najaf, Iraq.

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In the name of Allah, the (Abundantly) Merciful, the (Intensely) Merciful

And praise be to Allah Lord of the Worlds

And may Allah’s blessings be on Muhammad and his family, the Imams and the Mahdis and abundant peace

Peace be unto you and Allah’s mercy and his bounties

Encouraged to shave the head of the baby on the 7th day and to give charity according to its weight – this will become clear from the following statement of the Imam (as):

[As for the shaving of the head: it is from the sunnah (tradition) to shave the head on the 7th day in advance of the aqeeqah (sacrifice) and to give in charity according to the weight of the baby’s hair in gold or silver. It is undesirable to: shave one part of the head and leave another part of the head unshaven, since those are qanazi’ (top knots).

(Ref: p. 197 Book of Marriage, Shari’ ul Islam)

As for the ruling on aqeeqah (sacrifice), it is thus desirable on the 7th day, because of the following statement from the Imam (as):

[As for the aqeeqah (sacrifice): it is desirable to sacrifice a male (animal) for a male (baby) and female (animal) for a female (baby), and it is desirable. And if he gives in charity according to the value (of the aqeeqah) it does not satisfy the sunnah (tradition). If he is unable to fulfill it, he should delay it until he is capable of carrying it out, and it will remain a desirable act.

It is also desirable to: observe all of the conditions for sacrificing (an animal) and to specifically give the midwife from the leg and the hip (i.e. better parts of the animal). If there was no midwife, then he should give to the mother so that she gives it in charity. If the father does not sacrifice, it is desirable for the child to arrange a sacrifice on his own behalf when he reaches puberty.

If the child passes away on the 7th day: if they pass away before noon, the matter of aqeeqah (sacrifice) is dropped, however, if they pass away after noon the desirability to do the aqeeqah (sacrifice) is still there. It is undesirable for the parents to eat from it and to break anything from the bones on which it would walk (hooves or legs), in fact he should separate the parts…]

(Ref: p. 198 Book of Marriage, Shari’ ul Islam)

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Jurisprudence Committee

12th Rabi’ Ul Awwal 1442 (Hijri)

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

والحمد لله رب العالمين

وصلى الله على محمد وآله الائمة والمهديين وسلم تسليماً كثيرا

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

استحباب حلق راس الطفل اليوم السابع والتصدق بوزنه، يتضح لكم من كلام الإمام (ع):

(أما الحلق: فمن السنة حلق رأسه يوم السابع مقدماً على العقيقة، والتصدق بوزن شعره ذهباً أو فضة. ويكره: أن يحلق من رأسه موضع ، ويترك موضع، وهي القنازع)

المصدر: كتاب النكاح – شرائع الإسلام  ص ١٩٧

أما حكم العقيقة فمستحبة كذلك اليوم السابع، لقول الامام (ع):

(وأما العقيقة: فيستحب أن يعق عن الذكر ذكر، وعن الأنثى أنثى، وهي مستحبة. ولو تصدق بثمنها لم يجز في القيام بالسنة. ولو عجز عنها أخرها حتى يتمكن، ولا يسقط الاستحباب.

ويستحب: أن تجتمع فيها شروط الأضحية، وأن تخص القابلة منها بالرجل والورك. ولو لم تكن قابلة أعطي الأم تتصدق به. ولو لم يعق الوالد استحب للولد أن يعق عن نفسه إذا بلغ.

ولو مات الصبي يوم السابع فإن مات قبل الزوال سقطت، ولو مات بعده لم يسقط الاستحباب. ويكره للوالدين أن يأكلا منها، وأن يكسر شيء من عظامها التي تسير عليها (اليدان والرجلان)، بل يفصل أعضاؤها)

المصدر: كتاب النكاح – شرائع الإسلام ص١٩٨

اللجنة الفقهية

12/ربيع الاول/1442هـ