‘AQEEQAH
1. Definition
The word ‘Aqeeqah’ means the “the hair of the forehead”. It also means the animal that is sacrificed after the birth of a child, on the seventh day after birth. The purpose of ‘Aqeeqah is to give thanks to Allah, to express happiness on the birth of a child, and to announce the birth so that people know to whom the child belongs. ‘Aqeeqah, according to most of the jurists, is a highly recommended Sunnah.
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah, Sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given name.
2. Hukm ‘Aqeeqah
Hadiths about the ‘Aqeeiqah
The Prophet (Peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone has a child born to him, and wants to sacrifice for his child. Then let him do it.
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah, Sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given name.
The opinion of the jurists regarding the legality of aqeeqah; Aqiqah is waajib (obligatory) according to the first hadith but in the view of Jumhur (the vast majority of ulama) aqeeqah is sunnah muakkadah because the rules in the first hadith is clarified/ ‘further explained’ in the second hadith
Umme Kurz radhiyallahu anhaa narrates that she heard the Apostle of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam saying about Aqeeqah:
“Two goats should be sacrificed on behalf of a male child, and one on behalf of a female child, and it does not matter whether the animal was male or female.” Tirmizi, Nasa’ee
According to the hadith, the capable parents are strongly recommended to slaughter two sheep for a boy and one sheep for a girl. If a family cannot afford to sacrifice a sheep, then they can sacrifice one sheep for either boy or girl.
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sacrificed a ram for both al-Hasan and al-Husayn each (Allah is pleased with them).
One cow or camel can be shared for seven people for the Aqiqah or one portion for ‘aqiqah and another portion for the sadaqah. It is legitimate to share in aqeeqah and sacrifice.
Regarding to this matter, parents should using their own money to do the aqiqah, not from the child’s wealth, if the child’s money was being used it has to be replaced by the parents.
The Prophet (pbuh) recommended that the aqeeqah be held on the 7th day after the birth of the child, but it may be done later if one does not have the opportunity until the child has attained puberty (Baligh). The aqeeqah is sunnah for the children who have passed away.
3. Regulation and Condition for aqeeqah
a) The approved time of aqeeqah
b) The kinds of animals prescribed for aqeeqah
c) Performing the aqeeqah
a) The approved time of aqeeqah
There is no limitation for aqiqah,it is commendable to perform aqeeqah on the seventh day. It may be done on the fourteenth or twenty-first day, due to certain circumstances it could not be performed during the mentioned period, according to scholars it must be done within 40 days of the post-natal or within 2 years. If the child (male or female) attains adulthood and then comes to know that the father did not carry out their ‘Aqeeqah - then he may in this case perform ‘Aqeeqah for himself, since it has preceded that if the ‘Aqeeqah is not performed on time it may be done at any time thereafter. So he should do it since its prescription remains and in order to free himself from being in pledge as occurs in the hadeeth. This is the saying of ‘Ataa and al-Hasan and it is the view of the Shaafi’ees - rahimahumullaah-
b) The kind of animals prescribed for aqeeqah
The animal that is valid for sacrifice is valid too in the offering the aqeeqah.
It should be one of the animal of the`al-‘anam class (i.e., camel, cow, sheep or goat) It should be free of any faults that would render it unsuitable for sacrifice. No kind of animals, other than those three may be offered as Udhiyah.
The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said:
“There are four that will not do for sacrifice: a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones.”
(Sahih Al-Jami`, no. 886).
According to Al-Imam As-Syafie the obvious defects is as above:
- An animal so sick
- An animal with one or both eyes that are damaged.
- An animal that obviously limps.
- An animal that is abnormally skinny.
An ailing animal whose poor health has not had an obvious effect can be accepted as a legitimate sacrifice.
c) Method of performing the aqeeqah
a- Performing Aqeeqah
This rite is to be performed for the new born child whether it is a boy or a girl; however, two sheep are to be sacrificed for the boy and one for the girl
The proof for the saying of the majority who hold that two sheep are to be sacrificed for a boy and one for a girl is the hadeeth of ‘Aishah and Umm Kurz-radiyallaahu ‘anhumaa - from the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said: “For the boy two equal sheep and for the girl, a single sheep”.
b- Equipment for Aqeeqah
The instrument for performing the aqeeqah must be sharp .This is to be kind to the unfortunate animal and spare it unnecessary suffering insofar as this is possible. The Prophet (peace be on him) recommended sharpening the knife and putting the animal at ease, saying,
Allah has ordained kindness (or excellence) in everything. If killing is to be done, do it in the best manner, and when you slaughter, do it in the best manner by first sharpening the knife and putting the animal at ease.
(Reported by Muslim on the authority of Shaddad bin Aus.)
c- The Slaughtering of animal for Aqeeqah
1. It is best to make one’s aqeeqah with one’s own hands. However, if a person cannot slaughter an animal, he should appoint someone to do so and also be present himself at the time when the animal is being slaughtered
2- It is also recommended to let the animal face the direction of qiblah, although it is not an essential requirement for the validity of sacrifice.
3- There occurs in some Prophetic ahaadeeth an addition to be made besides the saying of ‘Bismillaah’ - i.e. a mention of who the sacrifice is made on behalf of - just like the Adhaa sacrifice. From ‘Aa.ishah - - radiyallaahu ‘anhaa - who said:
“The Prophet said: “Sacrifice with (mention of) his name, so say: In the name of Allah, O Allah, it is Yours and for You, this is the ‘Aqeeqah of so and so (Bismillaah . Allaahumma laka wa ilaika . Haadhihi “Aqeeqah ….)
And from Qataadah who said: “The name is said over the ‘Aqeeqah just as over the Adhaa sacrifice: ‘Bismillaah, ‘Aqeeqatu (so and so)”, and in another narration he added: “Allaahumma minka wa laka ‘Aqeeqah ……, Bismillaah, wallaahu Akbar.” (O Allah, it is from You and for You. The ‘Aqeeqa of so and so. In the name of Allah. Allah is greater.)
4- The slaughtering should be performed in open space.
5- The slaughterer should put his foot to the animal’s neck.
4- Distributing aqeeqah’s meat
The division of meat during aqeeqah is subject to the same injunctions as apply to division of meat of a sacrificial animal. It is permissible to eat from this ‘aqeeqah, and also to feed relatives, friends and the poor. It is permissible to cook it and then give it to others, or to give it to them raw. It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said concerning the meat of the ‘aqeeqah:
“It should be cut into pieces, then eaten and given to others.” (Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in al-Musannaf, 5)
The meat of the sacrifice may be distributed cooked or uncooked,, but it is preferred that it should be cooked as this leads to greater blessing as mentioned by a group of the scholars. In celebration of aqeeqah, one may invite others and cook the meat for the feast. Many scholars recommend cooking the ‘Aqeeqah’s meat and inviting others to feast on it-a practice of many Muslims from early times.
The Sunnah is to shave the child’s head and giving the child a good name along with Aqeeqah at the seventh day after the birth (on the same day).
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A boy is in pledge for his Aqiqah, Sacrifice is made for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved and he is given name.
It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did ‘aqeeqah for al-Hasan and al-Husayn on the seventh day, and gave them their names.
The child’s hair should be shaven, weighed and the equivalent amount of silver given to charity.On the birth occasion of Hasan (R. A.), the Noble Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa sallam) instructed Fatima (R. A.) to donate the equivalent amount to charity.
Narrated Ja’afar ibn Muhammad that his father said:” Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, weighed the hair of Hassan, Husayn, Zaynab and Umm Kulthum, and give away in sadaqa the equivalent weight in silver”.
5- Cooking the ‘Aqeeqah meat
It is permissible to distribute the meat raw or cooked - after being cut up, each limb being divided at the joints, and some of the scholars prefer that it be cooked before being distributed. ‘Ataa - rahimhullaah - said: “It should be cooked.” And he said: “There is no harm if it is roasted.”
And Imam Ahmad - rahimahullaah - was asked about cooking the ‘Aqeeqah meat. He said: “Yes …. it should be cooked with unbroken bones.” This also does not mean that it has to be cooked on the seventh day, since what is taken account of is the sacrifice - not the cooking and eating - as has preceded.
It is also disliked to break the bones:
1) What is reported in ‘mursal’ form from the Messenger that he said about the Aqeeqah which Faatimah gave for al-Hasan and al-Husayn: “Send a leg of it to the midwife, and eat and give it in food and do not break its bones.”
(2) The saying of ‘Aa.ishah - radiyallaahu ‘anhaa - to the one who vowed to sacrifice camels: “Rather the Sunnah is better.” until she said: “And do not break its bones.”
And this hadeeth has preceded, so those who declare it authentic it is a proof that the bones should not be broken, since ‘Aa.ishah attributed it to the prophetic Sunnah
5.1-Inviting to a Meal for the -’Aqeeqah.
The inviting to such a meal is permissible, beloved and good and is not disliked by anyone except Imam Maalik - rahimahullaah - . As for the Shaafi’ees, then they hold that distributing it in cooked form - as has preceded - is better than inviting to a meal, but that if people were invited to a meal, then that is allowed, and that if some meat were distributed and some given as a meal - then that is also allowed.
And if the Aqeeqah is made a general invitation - then it should not be restricted to the well-off to the exclusion of the poor, since this was forbidden by our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who said:
“The worst food is the food of the Waleemah to which the rich are invited and the poor are prevented from”
The Wisdom of Aqeeqah
- It is a sacrifice by means of which the child is brought close to Allah soon after he comes into this world.
- To give thanks to Allah, to express happiness on the birth of a child, and to announce the birth so that people know to whom the child belongs.
- It is a ransom for the newborn so that he or she can intercede for his parents.
- It is a sacrifice by which the newborn is ransomed just as Allah ransomed Isma`eel with the ram.
- Perhaps another benefit of the `Aqeeqah is the gathering of relatives and friends for a feast.
