At the birth of a child, the Aqiqah is performed as part of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It involves the sacrifice of livestock; such as goats and sheep. It often takes place on the seventh day after a baby’s birth. However, there’s nothing wrong with doing it at a later time.
The sacrifice is then divided between the family members who are carrying out the sacrifice. It’s often handed out to the poor and needy.
At Islamic Relief, we have a duty to be there for those who are most in need of our support.
Millions of people struggle everyday with poverty, with many people going days and months without proper food. Your donation could provide a family with a meal and give them the vital nutrients they need. They would also have the chance to share in the celebration of new life. The reward of this beloved Sunnah benefits so many of us.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) provided an Aqiqah to each of his two grandsons, Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husain.
An Aqiqah usually takes place on the seventh day after a baby’s birth. However, there’s nothing wrong with doing it at a later time.
The sacrifice is usually carried out by an adult male according to normal Sharia (halal) guidelines regarding meat. The animal(s) must be healthy, meet the requirements for minimal age for slaughter and not be slaughtered in sight of other animals.
For a baby boy, two animals are sacrificed. For a baby girl, one animal is sacrificed.
The sacrifice is then divided between the family members who are carrying out the sacrifice. It’s then handed out to the poor and needy. For family and friends, a party it’s often arranged to celebrate and share the meat.
The Aqiqah is often carried out first and then accompanied by a social gathering with family and friends, where a section of the meat is shared as a meal.
Islamic Relief has designed its Aqiqah Project to allow people to donate the sacrifice meal directly to those most in need.
The Aqiqah Project provides an opportunity for those who cannot afford to purchase meat, to have the nutritional benefit of an Islamic Relief Meat Packet. The project involves the distribution of these fresh meat packets to the most vulnerable people, including women, children, the elderly and refugees. Each meat packet distributed contains a sufficient amount of meat (5kgs on average) for a family.
Here’s a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that you can use for further guidance. Click here for FAQs specific to Qurbani.
There’s a difference of opinion on whether it’s a mandatory act or Sunnah Mu’akkadah (an act of worship performed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) continuously). The more dominant opinion is that it’s a Sunnah Mu’akkadah.
At the moment we can’t guarantee performing the Aqiqah on the seventh day, as we perform Aqiqah’s throughout the year.
According to Islamic Sharia Law and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it is not mandatory to say the name of a child. In fact, it is recommended to say “Bismillah”, “Allahu Akbar” during the slaughter.
The Aqiqah donation costs $230 for a boy, and $115 for a girl.
We do not need the child’s date of birth in order to perform the Aqiqah.
In the Aqiqah, Goats and sheep are sacrificed.
As much as we one day hope to issue Aqiqah’s in all of our field offices across the globe, at present it would consume a larger portion of the funds raised for this project to have Aqiqah’s performed in small numbers at each of these locations.
We have trained our Ethiopia office to implement the Aqiqah Project and fulfil our donors’ wishes. However, should the Aqiqah project increase in size, we hope to further our reach, insha’Allah.
The Aqiqah takes place in Ethiopia.
We provide raw meat to our beneficiaries so that they may cook it to their preference.
Islamic Relief provides you with the opportunity to do something amazing by donating to the Aqiqah Project. Your Aqiqah donation will provide a family in need with a meal to quell their hunger. They’ll have the vital nutrients they need to survive, and the chance to share in the celebration of new life.
Simply shave the head of your new-born, weigh the amount of shaved hair, equate that same weight in gold or silver value and finally provide it as a form of Sadaqah (voluntary charity).
It is a Sunnah to name the baby on the seventh day after the birth of your child.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recommended it, therefore it is a Mustahab Sunnah.
Shaving your new-born’s hair on the seventh day is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).