AQIQAH: A MUSTAHAB SACRIFICE

Aqiqah: is a newborn baby’s hair, it is also the animal that is sacrificed after a baby is born to show gratitude to Allah Ta‘âlâ.

Aqiqah is mustahab (recommended) according to the Hanafi mazhab whereas it is Sunnah according to the other mazhabs.

The seventh day is the most preferable day to perform aqiqah, however it can also be done on the day the baby is born.

Animals which are eligible for slaughter on Eid-Ul-Adha are also eligible for aqiqah. Sacrificing one animal is enough for both a boy and girl. Some Islamic scholars believe that two animals should be slaughtered for a boy.

During the slaughter process the parent of the baby should prostrate to Allah Ta‘âlâ reciting: “o my Allah! This aqiqah is for my baby. Let it be his security from the hellfire.” An individual can sacrifice an aqiqah for himself in adulthood, if no aqiqah was sacrificed after birth. Our Prophet sacrificed aqiqah animals hor himself after proclaiming his prophethood and for his grandchildren, when they were born.                                                                        

The aqiqah owner can consume the meat, offer it to others or give some or the entirety as charity.

Children are consecrations of Allah Ta’ala. Thus, slaughtering aqiqah is a form of showing gratitude to Allah Ta’ala for that blessing.

Our Prohet (pbuh) quoted: “The aqiqah is advised for every child. Hence shed blood on his behalf and extract the harm (hair) off him.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)