Changing baby's name does not require new 'Aqeeqah

16-5-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Our baby girl's ‘Aqeeqah was done on the seventh day. At that time, praise be to Allaah, we cut the hair, sacrificed an animal and, named her. Is it possible for us to change the name after the ‘Aqeeqah? If we want to change it, should we have a new ‘Aqeeqah? May Allaah reward you.

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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.

You have followed the Sunnah by doing the ‘Aqeeqah, shaving, and naming the newborn child on the seventh day. The Prophet said, “Every child is pledged to its ‘Aqeeqah, which should be slaughtered on their behalf on the seventh day, and the child is to be shaved and the weight of the hair in silver or its equivalent is given in charity, and they are to be given a name (on that same day).” [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah and An-Nasaa'i]

There is no Islamic impediment to changing the name after this if there is a need. This does not require another ‘Aqeeqah. The Prophet legislated for us to change names to better names, but he never ordered one who changed his name to slaughter an ‘Aqeeqah again. The Prophet changed the name of ‘Aasiyah (which means disobedient girl) and said, “You are Jameelah.” (which means beautiful/pretty). [Muslim]

Therefore, there is no harm for you in changing the name of your newborn daughter, and this does not require a new ‘Aqeeqah.

Allah knows best.