before that, or after it, it is sufficient, because the intended purpose is achieved. If one exceeds twenty-one days, it is possible that it remains recommended to slaughter on every seventh day, so one should make it twenty-eight; if that is not done, then on thirty-five, and so on, by analogy with what preceded. It is also possible that it is permissible at any time, because this is the fulfillment of a missed act, so it is not restricted, like making up the sacrifice (Udhiyah) and other similar things. If one does not perform the aqiqah at all, and the boy reaches maturity and earns a living, then there is no aqiqah upon him. Ahmad was asked about this issue, and he said: "That is upon the father." Meaning, one does not perform the aqiqah for oneself because the Sunnah is in regard to someone else. Ata and al-Hasan said: One performs the aqiqah for oneself, because it is legislated on one's behalf (4) and because one is held in pledge by it, so it is appropriate that one's own emancipation be legislated for him. As for us, it is legislated in the right of the father, so no one else performs it, just as in the case of a foreigner, like the Zakat al-Fitr.

Section: It is recommended that the boy’s head be shaved on the seventh day and that he be named, due to the hadith of Samurah. If one gives in charity the weight of his hair (5) in silver, it is good, for it was narrated that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to Fatimah when she gave birth to al-Hasan: "Shave his head and give in charity the weight of his hair in silver to the poor and the Ahl al-Suffah (the people of the Suffah)." Recorded by Imam Ahmad (6). Sa'id narrated in his Sunan from Muhammad ibn Ali that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) performed the aqiqah for al-Hasan and al-Husayn with one ram each, and that he gave in charity the weight of their hair in silver, and that Fatimah, when she gave birth to a child, would shave its hair and give its weight in silver in charity (7). If one names him before the seventh day, it is permissible, because the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "A boy was born to me tonight, and I named him with the name of my father, Ibrahim" (8). He also named the boy brought to him by Anas ibn Malik; he performed the tahnik (softening of a date) for him and named him Abdullah (9).