Fiqh


IBADAAT -> Aqeeqah


      Aqeeqah

    1. When a boy or girl is born to a person, it is preferable to name the child on the seventh day and to make aqeeqah. By making aqeeqah, the child is safeguarded from all types of dangers and calamities.
    2. The method of aqeeqah is that if a boy is born, two goats or two sheep should be slaughtered. If a girl is born, one goat or one sheep should be slaughtered. Alternatively, if one wishes to take a share in a bull that is being slaughtered for qurbani, then two shares should be taken for a boy and one share for a girl. Furthermore, the child's head should be shaved, the hair should be weighed, and gold or silver equal to the weight of the hair should be given in charity. If one wishes, saffron could be applied to the child's head.
    3. If one does not make the aqeeqah on the seventh day, one should bear in mind the seventh day (when making the aqeeqah in the future). The method of calculating the seventh day is that the day that the child is born, aqeeqah should be made the following week but one day before that. For example, if the child is born on a Friday, aqeeqah should be made on the following Thursday. If the child was born on a Thursday, aqeeqah should be made on the following Wednesday.
    4. The custom of slaughtering the animal at the exact time when the barber places his shaving machine on the child's head is nothing but a useless custom. According to the Shariah, it is permissible to slaughter the animal either before shaving the head or after. It is not good to insist on following customs that have no basis in the Shariah.
    5. The animal that cannot be used for qurbani cannot be used for aqeeqah as well. If an animal is permissible for qurbani, it will be permissible for aqeeqah as well.
    6. The meat of aqeeqah could be distributed raw, cooked, or it could be prepared as a meal and people could be invited to join in the meal.
    7. It is permissible for the parents, grand parents, etc. to consume the meat of aqeeqah.
    8. A person does not have sufficient wealth. He therefore makes aqeeqah of only one animal on behalf of his son. There is no harm in doing so. If a person does not make aqeeqah at all, there is no harm in this as well.