Aqiqah

`Aqīqah, "Aqeeqa", "Aqeeqah" ([Arabic]: عقيقة) is the Islamic tradition of the sacrifice of an animal on the occasion of a child's birth. It is widely performed by Muslims and it is considered sunnah to slaughter one sheep for the baby girl and two sheep for the baby boy. Aqiqah is a Sunnat al Mu'akkadah (confirmed sunnah). If the guardian of the child is capable of slaughtering two sheep for a baby boy and one sheep for a female child, he should do it. Muhammed said : “A baby is being pledged for his Aqiqah, sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved, and a name is given him". If one cannot slaughter on the seventh day, one may slaughter on the fourteenth day or on the twenty-first day. If one is not capable of doing so, then one may slaughter any time before the puberty of the child. [1][2]

Benefits

Some Muslims believe that after performing Aqiqah their children will be safe from harm. Aqiqah is a type of sadaqah and it is also sunnah.[3]

References

  1. ↑ The sacred meadows : a structural analysis of religious symbolism in an East African town / by Abdul Hamid M. el Zein.
  2. ↑ 'Raise your voices and kill your animals' : Islamic discourses on the Idd el-Hajj and sacrifices in Tanga (Tanzania) : authoritative texts, ritual practices and social identities / by Gerard C. van de Bruinhorst full text
  3. ↑ Sunan al-Tirmidhi, hadith #1522–1524
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