Aqiqah (Birth Celebration Sacrifice)

Definition

Aqiqah (عقيقة) is the Islamic practice of sacrificing an animal on the occasion of a child's birth. It is performed on the seventh day after birth and is accompanied by naming the child and shaving the baby's head.

Ruling and Evidence

The majority of scholars consider aqiqah a confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). The Dhahiri school considers it obligatory. The Prophet said: 'Every child is mortgaged by their aqiqah, which should be slaughtered on the seventh day, and on that day the child should be named and their head shaved' (Sunan Abu Dawud 2838). The number of animals is two sheep for a boy and one for a girl, based on the hadith of Aisha (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1513). Some scholars, particularly in the Maliki school, say one sheep suffices for either gender.

Associated Practices

Naming: The child should be given a good name on the seventh day. The Prophet loved names beginning with 'Abd' (servant of) followed by one of Allah's names, such as Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman (Sahih Muslim 2132). Shaving the Head: The baby's head is shaved and the weight of the hair in silver (or its monetary equivalent) is given as charity. Tahnik: Softening a date and rubbing it on the palate of the newborn's mouth, a sunnah practiced by the Prophet with children brought to him for blessing (Sahih al-Bukhari 5467).

Distribution

The meat of the aqiqah is distributed similarly to the udhiyah: a portion for the family, a portion for relatives and friends, and a portion for the poor. Cooking and serving the meat as a meal for guests is an acceptable and common practice.