Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaamu-alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

I had asked a question with regard to Aqeeka sometime ago.  Bohras sacrifice a goat or a lamb but they do not cut the bone whereas the rest of the Muslim mumineen break the bone into several segments for distribution to friends & relatives

Wassalaam

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

ANSWER:

Aqiqa

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It has been reported on the authority of Hadrat Samurah ibn Jundub that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “A boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah, sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given name.”

The tradition of the Prophet (saws), his noble companions and his family was that the aqiqah meat was shared and distributed to the families, their friends, neighbors and the poor. There is absolutely no authenticity or no narration that states that the bones of the slaughtered animals should not be broken in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). This system and ‘rasm’ of not breaking the Aqiqah bones is at best a custom and at worst a ‘bidah’ or innovation, and must be avoided by those who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day.

It has been reported by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (r.a.) that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people.”

It has been reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah (r.a.) in another authentic narration that the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

And the Prophet (saws) said in one his narrations, that ‘I (saws) have come to break your chains and shackles of rasams and customs that you have put on yourselves because of jaahiliya.’

And Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Siraat al-Mustaqeem

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan