Breaking the bones of the aqiqa animal

Question

Question: I have heard from the ulama that the common people’s notion regarding the aqiqa meat — that its bones should not be broken — is baseless and a bid‘a (innovation in religion). However, below I quote a few narrations from Tuhfat al-Mawlud which appear to support this notion: [ar]وقد ذكر أبو داود في كتاب المراسيل عن جعفر بن محمد عن أبيه أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ فِي الْعَقِيقَةِ الَّتِي عَقَّتْهَا فَاطِمَةُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ: أَنِ ابْعَثُوا إِلَى الْقَابِلَةِ مِنْهَا بِرِجْلٍ، وَكُلُوا…

Answer

The common people regard breaking the bones as impermissible; this belief is wrong, and the ulama have refuted it. What the quoted narration contains is not an obligatory ruling but a recommended (mustahabb) matter done for a good omen (tafa’ulan). If it is kept within those limits it is fine, but if it is given the status of wajib, karaha (dislike)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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