What is Aqiqah?
Aqiqah - a Celebration of Your Child's Birth
What is Aqiqah and how does it work?
Offering an animal in remembrance of the birth of a child is known in Islamic circles as Aqiqah (Arabic: ), Akika (Arabic: ), or Akeeka (Arabic: ). This is also known as the Sunnah, and it is considered a subcategory of the Sadaqah. According to another hadith ascribed to Ja'far al-Sadiq, every child is a pawn of Aqeeqah; particularly, if the parents do not conduct Aqeeqah for the child, the child will die or suffer from numerous calamities. It is Sunnah for parents to ingest Aqiqah meat, according to Islamic tradition.
Who is responsible for delivering the Aqiqah?
When a child is born, the parents/guardian must offer an Aqiqah to Allah (SWT) in exchange for protection from Shaytaan, expiation of sins, and prevention of catastrophes, inshaAllah. Aqiqah is a sunnah, not a need. However, it is strongly recommended that the Aqiqah be performed on the seventh day following the birth of a newborn child by the parents.
When must the Aqiqah be performed?
The preferred way for performing Aqiqah is on the 7th day after the child's birth; if this is not possible, then on the 14th or 21st day, and so on. According to certain scholars, this may be continued until the kid reaches maturity, at which point Aqiqah can be done. However, after this time, doing Aqiqah is unnecessary.
What is the Aqiqah's Purpose?
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions were blessed with a baby, they would perform Aqiqah. There are many advantages to doing Aqiqah:
Which animals are gonna be slaughtered?
The animals used for Aqiqah are in the same condition as those used for Qurbani. The butchered animals must be sheep, goats, cows, or camels. It must be at least six years old for camels, three years old for cows, and two years old for goats. They must be physically devoid of defects such as illness, lameness, malnutrition, and blindness. The animals must be killed humanely.
Is Aqiqah a mandatory observance?
While the Aqiqah is not mandatory, it has many advantages, and Muslim parents with financial resources are urged to do it. In the words of the Prophet ( blessings and peace be upon him), "Slaughter two comparable sheep for the newborn male and one similar sheep for the newborn girl." If one can't afford to kill two sheep for a male birth, slaughtering one is acceptable.
Islamic historical usage
On the 7th day of Muhammad's birth, Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib conducted Aqiqah for him and summoned members of his household, who inquired "what is this?" with which he responded, "Aqiqah for Ahmad." Because of the honors showered upon him by the people of heaven and earth, he claimed to have granted him the name Ahmad.
Muhammad is believed to have conducted Aqiqah for his grandson Hasan ibn Ali and grandson Husayn ibn Ali on the 7th day of their births, respectively, by slaughtering one sheep; the leg was offered to the nurse who assisted with the delivery.
If the seventh day cannot be slaughtered, someone may kill on the fourteenth or twenty-first day. If a person is unable of doing so, he or she may kill the kid at any moment prior to the youngster reaching puberty. The Aqiqah is Sunnah and Mustahabb; it is not compulsory in any way, and therefore does not constitute a sin for those who do not do it.
Ja'far al-Sadiq, a great-grandson of Muhammad and a renowned scholar during his lifetime, stated that the shaving, aqiqah slaughtering, and naming of the infant should all take place within an hour.
The Aqiqah ritual is a time for parents to express gratitude to Allah for the gift of their child. The shaving of the head symbolizes the purification of the infant from impurities and the beginning of its existence again in Allah's presence.
What is Aqiqah and how does it work?
Offering an animal in remembrance of the birth of a child is known in Islamic circles as Aqiqah (Arabic: ), Akika (Arabic: ), or Akeeka (Arabic: ). This is also known as the Sunnah, and it is considered a subcategory of the Sadaqah. According to another hadith ascribed to Ja'far al-Sadiq, every child is a pawn of Aqeeqah; particularly, if the parents do not conduct Aqeeqah for the child, the child will die or suffer from numerous calamities. It is Sunnah for parents to ingest Aqiqah meat, according to Islamic tradition.
Who is responsible for delivering the Aqiqah?
When a child is born, the parents/guardian must offer an Aqiqah to Allah (SWT) in exchange for protection from Shaytaan, expiation of sins, and prevention of catastrophes, inshaAllah. Aqiqah is a sunnah, not a need. However, it is strongly recommended that the Aqiqah be performed on the seventh day following the birth of a newborn child by the parents.
When must the Aqiqah be performed?
The preferred way for performing Aqiqah is on the 7th day after the child's birth; if this is not possible, then on the 14th or 21st day, and so on. According to certain scholars, this may be continued until the kid reaches maturity, at which point Aqiqah can be done. However, after this time, doing Aqiqah is unnecessary.
What is the Aqiqah's Purpose?
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions were blessed with a baby, they would perform Aqiqah. There are many advantages to doing Aqiqah:
- The birth of the kid is celebrated within the family and community; being blessed with a child is a tremendous gift from God.
- Welcoming a baby into the family is more than a joyous event; family members, relatives, neighbors, and friends are all welcomed to share in the joy.
- The underprivileged should be involved in the festivities by being given food and meat on this day.
Which animals are gonna be slaughtered?
The animals used for Aqiqah are in the same condition as those used for Qurbani. The butchered animals must be sheep, goats, cows, or camels. It must be at least six years old for camels, three years old for cows, and two years old for goats. They must be physically devoid of defects such as illness, lameness, malnutrition, and blindness. The animals must be killed humanely.
Is Aqiqah a mandatory observance?
While the Aqiqah is not mandatory, it has many advantages, and Muslim parents with financial resources are urged to do it. In the words of the Prophet ( blessings and peace be upon him), "Slaughter two comparable sheep for the newborn male and one similar sheep for the newborn girl." If one can't afford to kill two sheep for a male birth, slaughtering one is acceptable.
Islamic historical usage
On the 7th day of Muhammad's birth, Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib conducted Aqiqah for him and summoned members of his household, who inquired "what is this?" with which he responded, "Aqiqah for Ahmad." Because of the honors showered upon him by the people of heaven and earth, he claimed to have granted him the name Ahmad.
Muhammad is believed to have conducted Aqiqah for his grandson Hasan ibn Ali and grandson Husayn ibn Ali on the 7th day of their births, respectively, by slaughtering one sheep; the leg was offered to the nurse who assisted with the delivery.
If the seventh day cannot be slaughtered, someone may kill on the fourteenth or twenty-first day. If a person is unable of doing so, he or she may kill the kid at any moment prior to the youngster reaching puberty. The Aqiqah is Sunnah and Mustahabb; it is not compulsory in any way, and therefore does not constitute a sin for those who do not do it.
Ja'far al-Sadiq, a great-grandson of Muhammad and a renowned scholar during his lifetime, stated that the shaving, aqiqah slaughtering, and naming of the infant should all take place within an hour.
The Aqiqah ritual is a time for parents to express gratitude to Allah for the gift of their child. The shaving of the head symbolizes the purification of the infant from impurities and the beginning of its existence again in Allah's presence.