Performing aqeeqah for oneself and older children, and borrowing for it

wa aliaikum us-salaam wa-rahmat ullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

al-hamdu lillaah.

(a) Jumhoor al-ulemaa’ (vast majority of the scholars) agree that theaqeeqa is a sunnah mustahabbah for those who are capable of doing it andcan afford it. Among its benefits are breaking the influence of theshaitaan on the new-born. It is also permissible for a Muslim to make anaqeeqah for himself if his parents did not perform it for him. Similarly,he can do it for his children even if it is after many years if he didn’tdo it when they were young.

Refer to the book “Tuhfat ul-Mawdood bi-Ahkaam il-Mawlood” by Imam Ibnul-Qayyim, Chapter 6: “The Aqeeqah and its Rulings”, Part 19: “The Rulingfor One Whose Parents Did Not Perform an Aqeeqah–Should He Perform one onHis Own Behalf?” for more details. It is mentioned there that Ismaa’il ibnSa’eed al-Shaalanji asked (Imam) Ahmed regarding a man whose fatherinformed him that he did not perform an aqeeqah on his behalf–should heperform it on his own behalf? He said,

“That is the father’s duty.” …

and it was said, “Should one perform an aqeeqah on his own behalf as anadult?” … and I saw that it is preferrable if an aqeeqah was notperformed as a child then it should be performed as an adult, and (ImamAhmed) said:

“If someone does that I would not discourage it or regard it asreprehensible.”

(b) It is not mandatory for a person to take a loan in order to spend on anaqeeqah. However, if he does it then it would be considered commendable asper Imam Ahmed’s opinion. It was related by Abi il-Harith that he askedAbu Abdullah regarding one who doesn’t have enough to perform an aqeeqah;Imam Ahmed said,

“If he borrowed for it I hope Allaah would reward andprovide for him by virtue that he has observed a sunnah.”

Refer to “Tuhfat il-Mawdood,” same chapter, Part 11: “Regarding Borrowingfor an Aqeeqah and its Rulings and Benefits.”