Darul Ifta Ibn Masood

Aqeeqah and Tahneek

· 25 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1444 AH2 min readEnglish

Question

1. Can the Aqeeqah for a child, and Qurbani at the time of Eidul Adha, be joined together in one animal (eg. a cow or bull)?

2. What is the Sunnah method of making Tahneek for a child. Should the child be taken to the pious person and given something to eat from the mouth of the pious person, or should the date be chewed beforehand and taken to the hospital at the time of giving birth, and then given to the baby? Should the Tahneek be the first thing a newborn baby is given to eat?

Answer

1. Yes, it is permissible to have a share for Aqeeqah in a large animal (such as a cow) together with the shares of Qurbani.

2. Tahneek refers to the Sunnah of chewing a date and applying a part of the chewed portion to the palate of the child. If dates are unavailable, one may apply anything sweet, like honey, to the child’s palate. It is preferable that the Tahneek is done by a pious person. The wisdom behind this is, when the child’s first food will be from a pious person, it is hoped that qualities of piety and righteousness will be rubbed off onto the child Insha’Allah.

The method of Tahneek mentioned in the Hadith Sharif is that, children would be brought to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam for Tahneek during his era.

Aisha Radhiallahu Anhu narrates, Children used to be brought to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, then he would bless them and perform their Tahneek”.

However, in our times it might be difficult to take the baby to the pious person immediately after birth, as the mother and child might be required to remain in hospital for a few days. In this instance, the dates chewed by the pious person can be taken to the hospital, and the Sunnah of Tahneek can be fulfilled. Hence, both methods of Tahneek will be valid. Furthermore, the chewed dates should be the first thing given to the child.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

وكذا لو أراد بعضهم العقيقة عن ولد قد ولد له من قبل لأن ذلك جهة التقرب بالشكر على نعمة الولد ذكره محمد ولم يذكر الوليمة

(الدر المختار و حاشية ابن عابدين 6/326)

وكذلك إن أراد بعضهم العقيقة عن ولد ولد له من قبل؛ لأن ذلك جهة التقرب إلى الله تعالى – عز شأنه – بالشكر على ما أنعم عليه من الولد

(بدائع الصنائع 2/72)

Re-: Kitaabun Nawaazil Vol.14 Pg.684

والحكمة فيه أنه يتفاءل له بالإيمان لأن التمر ثمرة الشجرة التي شبهها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، بالمؤمن، وبحلاوته أيضا، ولا سيما إذا كان المحنك من أهل الفضل والعلماء والصالحين لأنه يصل إلى جوف المولود من ريقهم ألا ترى أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، لما حنك عبد الله بن الزبير حاز من الفضائل والكمالات ما لا يوصف؟ وكان قارئا للقرآن عفيفا في الإسلام، وكذلك عبد الله بن أبي طلحة كان من أهل العلم والفضل والتقدم في الخير ببركة ريقه المبارك. (عمدة القاري 21/84)

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُؤْتَى بِالصِّبْيَانِ فَيُبَرِّكُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيُحَنِّكُهُمْ

(رواه مسلم #101)

عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: أَنَّهَا حَمَلَتْ بِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، قَالَتْ: فَخَرَجْتُ وَأَنَا مُتِمٌّ فَأَتَيْتُ المَدِينَةَ فَنَزَلْتُ بِقُبَاءٍ فَوَلَدْتُهُ بِقُبَاءٍ، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَوَضَعْتُهُ فِي حَجْرِهِ، ثُمَّ دَعَا بِتَمْرَةٍ فَمَضَغَهَا، ثُمَّ تَفَلَ فِي فِيهِ، فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ شَيْءٍ دَخَلَ جَوْفَهُ رِيقُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ حَنَّكَهُ بِتَمْرَةٍ ثُمَّ دَعَا لَهُ، وَبَرَّكَ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ

(صحيح البخاري #3909)

Answered by
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Checked & approved by
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
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