Can someone do aqeeqah before the 7th day?

Bismillahi Ta’ala

Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah

At the outset, Aqeeqah is the a means of thanking Allah and showing gratitude through slaughtering upon the birth of a child. This aqeeqah is Mustahab in itself.

The sunnah method of doing this aqeeqah is to do it on the 7th day, and if not then 14th day, and if not then 21. Beyond 21st day doing aqeeqah becomes “Mubah”.

Regarding your question, however, if a person does Aqeeqah before the 7th day, then while the istihbaab of doing aqeeqah will be fulfilled, the afdhaliya and sunniyyah of doing it on the 7th day will be lost. Some have even mentioned doing before the 7th day with simple wordings of “permissible” which would indicate that it would be “Mubah” and not “Mustahab”.

Wallahu A’lam

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi