Chapter on Aqiqah, Tahnik, Naming, Kunyah, Shaving the Newborn's Head, Piercing the Ears, and Circumcision

In the narration of Abu Khadijah from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, that he said: "Every person is held in pledge by their natural disposition (fitrah), and every newborn is held in pledge by their Aqiqah."

It was narrated from Umar ibn Yazid who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, "By Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I do not know whether my father performed the aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn) for me or not." Imam عليه السلام instructed me, so I performed the aqiqah for myself while I was an old man.

In the narration of Ali ibn Al-Hakam from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah from the Righteous Servant (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام), that he said: "Aqiqah is obligatory when a man is blessed with a child. If he wishes to name the child on the same day, he may do so."

Ammar Al-Sabati narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام who said: "Aqiqah is obligatory for those who are wealthy. As for the poor, when they become financially capable, they should perform it. If they are unable to do so, then nothing is required of them. If Aqiqah was not done for a person until a sacrifice (Udhiyyah) was offered on their behalf, the sacrifice suffices for them. Every newborn is held in pledge by their Aqiqah." Imam عليه السلام also said regarding Aqiqah: "A ram should be slaughtered on their behalf. If a ram is not available, anything permissible for sacrifice in Udhiyyah will suffice. If that is not possible, then a lamb, the largest among the lambs of the year, should be offered."

In the narration of Muhammad ibn Marid from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, he said: I asked him about the Aqiqah. Imam عليه السلام replied: "It can be a sheep, a cow, or a camel. Then the child should be named, and his head should be shaved on the seventh day. Charity should be given in gold or silver equal to the weight of the shaved hair. If the newborn is a boy, a male animal should be sacrificed on his behalf, and if it is a girl, a female animal should be sacrificed for her."

Abu Talib عليه السلام, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى have mercy on him, performed the Aqiqah for the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) on the seventh day after his birth. He invited the family of Abu Talib, and when they asked: "What is this?" Abu Talib عليه السلام replied: "This is the Aqiqah of Ahmad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم." They asked: "Why did you name him Ahmad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم?" Abu Talib عليه السلام said: "I named him Ahmad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم because of the praise (maḥmadah) He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم receives from the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth."

In the narration of Ammar Al-Sabati from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, that he said: "If the midwife (qabilah) is a Jewess who does not eat the meat of an animal slaughtered by Muslims, she should be given one-fourth of the value of the ram, and it is purchased from her with that."

In another narration from Ammar, it is reported: "A quarter of the Aqiqah should be given to the midwife. If there is no midwife, then the child's mother may give it to whomever she wishes. She should also feed ten Muslims from it, and if she feeds more, it is even better."

It is narrated: "The best way to cook the Aqiqah meat is with water and salt."

Ammar Al-Sabati reported that Imam عليه السلام was asked about the Aqiqah about when it is slaughtered, should its bones be broken? He عليه السلام replied: "Yes, its bones should be broken, and its meat should be cut up. After the slaughter, you may do with it as you wish."

Idris ibn Abdullah Al-Qummi asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a newborn who is born and dies on the seventh day. Should the Aqiqah be performed for him? Imam عليه السلام replied: "If he dies before noon, the Aqiqah is not performed for him. But if he dies after noon, the Aqiqah should be performed for him."

Ammar Al-Sabati narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام who said: "When you intend to slaughter the Aqiqah, say: 'O my people, I am free from what you associate with Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Indeed, I have turned my face toward the One سبحانه وتعالى who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not among the polytheists. Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Lord عز وجل of the worlds. He سبحانه وتعالى has no partner, and with this I have been commanded, and I am among the Muslims. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is from You سبحانه وتعالى and for You سبحانه وتعالى. In the name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Greatest. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, accept this from (mention the child's name), son of (mention the father's name).' Then you proceed with the slaughter."

In another narration from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, he said: "At the time of performing the Aqiqah, say: 'O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is from You سبحانه وتعالى and for You سبحانه وتعالى. It is what You سبحانه وتعالى have granted, and You سبحانه وتعالى are the Giver. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, accept it from us in accordance with the tradition of Your Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم. I seek refuge in Allah سبحانه وتعالى from the accursed Satan.' Then mention the child's name, slaughter the animal, and say: 'For You سبحانه وتعالى, I have shed this blood, with no partner for You سبحانه وتعالى. All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Lord عز وجل of the worlds. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, drive away from us the accursed Satan.' As for circumcision, it is a Sunnah (recommended practice) for men and an honorable practice (makramah) for women."

Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim narrated from Ja'far ibn Muhammad from his father عليه السلام who said that Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلامsaid: "There is no harm if a woman is not circumcised, but as for a man, it is necessary for him."

Abdullah ibn Ja'far al-Himyari wrote to Imam Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan ibn Ali عليه السلام, saying: "It has been narrated from the Righteous Ones (peace be upon them) that they said: 'Circumcise your children on the seventh day so they may be purified, for the earth complains to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, about the urine of the uncircumcised.' May Allah make me your ransom, but the barbers in our region are not skilled in this, and they do not circumcise on the seventh day. However, we have a barber who is a Jew. Is it permissible for the Jews to circumcise Muslim children or not?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "On the seventh day - do not oppose the Sunnah, God willing."

It was narrated from Murazim ibn Hakim Al-Azdi that Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said regarding the circumcision of a child: "One should say: O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, this is Your سبحانه وتعالى Sunnah and the Sunnah of Your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and it is our following of You سبحانه وتعالى and Your Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم by Your سبحانه وتعالى will, Your سبحانه وتعالى desire, and Your سبحانه وتعالى decree for a matter You سبحانه وتعالى have willed, a decision You سبحانه وتعالى have made obligatory, and a command You سبحانه وتعالى have executed. You سبحانه وتعالى have made him taste the heat of iron in his circumcision and cupping for a matter You سبحانه وتعالى know better than I do. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, purify him from sins, increase his lifespan, protect his body from afflictions and his flesh from pain, increase him in wealth, and remove poverty from him. Indeed, You سبحانه وتعالى know while we do not." Abu Abdullah عليه السلام also said: "Whoever does not say this at the time of his child's circumcision should say it before the child reaches puberty. If he says it, the child will be protected from the heat of iron, whether from killing or anything else."

It was narrated from Harun ibn Muslim who said: I wrote to the 'Sahib al-Dar' (Master of the House Imam Muhammad ibn Hassan Al-Mahdi عليه السلام) saying: "A child was born to me, and I shaved his head, weighed his hair in dirhams, and gave its equivalent in charity." Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is not permissible to weigh it except with gold or silver, and this is the established Sunnah."

Abu Abdullah عليه السلام was asked about the reason for shaving the head of a newborn. Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is to purify the child from the hair of the womb."

Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام about a newborn whose head was not shaved on the seventh day. Imam عليه السلام replied: "If seven days have passed, then shaving the head is no longer required."

In the narration of Al-Sakooni, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "O Fatimah, pierce the ears of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn in opposition to the Jews."