What is the prescribed timing for performing the Aqiqah sacrifice?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Sacrifices (Uḍḥiyah)
Primary text
The established Sunnah is the sacrifice on the seventh day after birth. This is based on the Hadith of Samurah, wherein the Prophet stated that every child is pledged for his Aqiqah, which is to be slaughtered on his seventh day, named, and his head shaved. If the seventh day is missed, it should be performed on the fourteenth day, and if that is missed, then on the twenty-first day. This progression (7th, 14th, 21st) is supported by a narration attributed to Aisha, which is taken as a decisive, divinely transmitted ruling due to Aisha's stature in relaying such specific determinations.
Supporting text
If the sacrifice is performed before the seventh day or after the twenty-first, it is still considered valid because the essential objective is achieved. If it exceeds the twenty-first day, there are two possibilities: either it should be performed on every subsequent seventh day (i.e., 28th, then 35th), following the established pattern, or it may be performed at any time, treating it as a missed obligation similar to the Qada' of the Udhiyah, which is not time-bound once missed.