Wisdom behind not breaking the bones of the 'Aqeeqah

10-2-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

why it is forbidden to break bones of the aqiqah meat?(for what hikma)

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Ahaadeeth that were reported about the prohibition of breaking the bones of the ‘Aqeeqah are not confirmed to be authentic according to the criteria set by the scholars of Hadeeth, as Imam An-Nawawi has pointed out in Al-Majmoo’ and Al-Albaani in Irwaa’ Al-Ghaleel.

Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned in Tuhfat Al-Mawlood from Imaam Maalik that it is permissible to break its bones. He said: “Ibn Shihaab said it is permissible to break its bones, and this is the view of Maalik. The scholars who are of the view that it is permissible to break its bones said that there is no authentic Sunnah to support that it is either forbidden or undesirable, whereas it is customary to break the bones of meat as this facilitates eating the meat and getting the full benefit from it, and there is no advantage that prevents from doing so. Those who are of the view that it is disliked to break its bones relied on the statements of the Companions and the Taabi’is  (successors of the Prophet’s Companions) that we have mentioned and the Mursal Hadeeth [i.e. Hadeeth narrated by a Tabi’ie] that is reported by Abu Daawood.”

Then, he mentioned three rationales for the undesirability of breaking the bones, saying:

1.     Showing the honor and seriousness of this food (‘Aqeeqah) since it is offered to others to eat, or given as a gift to neighbors or charity to the poor. So, it is desirable that it is cut into portions, with each portion being whole and none of its bones being broken or its parts incomplete. There is no doubt that this is more generous than offering small pieces.

2.     If the gift is higher in value, it has a good effect on the receiver, and it is a sign of the honor and determination of the giver. This also inolves a sign of hope for the greatness, determination and honor of the newborn.

3.     Since the ‘Aqeeqah is like a ransom [for the soul of the newborn], it is desirable that its bones are not broken as a sign of optimism about the safety, strength, and healthiness of the newborn's body and about avoiding breaking the bones of the ransom of the newborn. To those who are of the view that it is undesirable to do so, the breaking of the bones is of the same nature as naming it ‘Aqeeqah (which is undesirable because it is derived from the same origin as the word ‘Uqooq which means undutifulness to parents). So, the undesirability of breaking the bones is analogous to the undesirability of the name.

Allaah Knows best.