Aqiqah – celebrate the birth of your child
SAWAB’s Aqiqah pack comprises the sacrifice of one (for girl) or two (for boy) Aqiqah animals (BDT 10,000 & US$ 100.00 per animal) and meat distributed to the poor and orphans. US$ 10 or BDT 1000.00 also is given in sadaqah to the poor, at the market price of silver, this easily covers the value equal to the weight in silver of your child’s hair. Aqiqah is performed within 7 days.
What is Aqiqah ?
Aqiqah, an Islamic terminology, is defined as the animal that is slaughtered on the occasion of child birth. For the child there should be aqiqah, on behalf of the child make sacrifice and remove the hair. Hadith (Bukhari)
When should Aqiqah be performed?
The preferable method for Aqiqah (haqiqa, aqeeqa) is that it should be performed on the seventh day if not then the 14th or 21st and so on. Some scholars have said that this can be carried on till the child has become mature and say Aqiqah can be performed then. However, after this period performing Aqiqah is irrelevant. Some scholars given the Fatwa that Aqiqah is valid till the day of one’s death. If someone after becoming an adult performs his own Aqiqah (aqeeqah, hakika), according to some scholars it is not valid but according to some scholars it’s permissible as it is also understood form Fadhul Bari.
What is the purpose of Aqiqah?
The performance of Aqiqah is highly encouraged. It is to be performed by the parents or the guardians of the child. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions used to perform Aqiqah (haqiqa, aqeeqa) when they were bestowed with a newborn. There are many benefits in the performance of Aqiqah (aqeeqah, hakika). One is the announcing the birth of the baby. Being bestowed a child is a great blessing from the Creator. Another purpose is inviting family members, neighbors, and friends to celebrate the blessed occasion. The poor should be included in the celebration by offering them food and meat served on this occasion.
Types of animals to be slaughtered
The following is a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) where he advised Aqiqah (aqiqa, akika) a goat/sheep.
Narrated Umm Kurz: The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Two sheep which resemble each other are to be sacrificed for a boy and one for a girl. (Sunan Abu Dawood Book 15, No. 2830)
The condition of the animal for aqiqah
The condition of the animals in Aqiqah is the same as the conditions for the animals in Qurbani. The animals to be slaughtered must be a goats, cows or camels. For camels, it must be older than 6 years, for cows the age must be older than 3 years and for goats, it must be older than 2 years. They must be free from any form of handicap such as blind, sick, limp and undernourished. The animals must be slaughtered in the appropriate humane ways. Celebrate the birth of your newborn and share the joy with your needy brothers and sisters through the SAWAB’s Aqiqah Service.
The Aqiqah (haqiqa, aqeeqa) Pack
The SAWAB Aqiqah Pack encompasses all these aspects and includes: The sacrifice of one or two Aqiqah animals (depending on sex “boy or a girl”) distributed to the poor and needy, including orphans and the elderly. The value equal to the weight in silver of your child’s hair distributed to the needy as sadaqah. * Aqiqah performed within 3 days. * US$ 100.00 @ BDT 10,000.00 is given in sadaqah. At the market price of silver this easily covers the required value.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is Aqiqah?
Aqiqah is defined as the animal that is slaughtered on the occasion of childbirth.
“For the child, there should be Aqiqah, on behalf of the child make sacrifice and remove the hair” – Hadith (Bukhari)
Q2: What is the purpose of Aqiqah?
There are many benefits to the performance of Aqiqah. One is announcing the birth of the baby. Being bestowed a child is a great blessing from the Creator. Another purpose is inviting family members, neighbors, and friends to celebrate the blessed occasion. The poor should be included in the celebration by offering them food and meat served on this occasion.
Q3: How can SAWAB help me in performing Aqiqah for my newborn?
SAWAB offers Aqiqah Pack which takes care of performing Aqiqah, distribution of meat to deserving and needy, and giving Sadaqah on behalf of your newborn.
Q4: What is included in the SAWAB Aqiqah Pack?
The SAWAB Aqiqah Pack encompasses all aspects and includes:
- The sacrifice of one or two Aqiqah animals (depending on gender “boy or a girl”) distributed to the poor and needy, including orphans and the elderly.
- The value equal to the weight in silver of your child’s hair distributed to the needy as Sadaqah.
- Aqiqah is performed within 2 days.
- US$ 10.00 @ BDT 1000.00 is given in Sadaqah, at the market price of silver this easily covers the required value.
Q5: What are the different spellings for Aqiqah?
The different spellings for Aqiqah (عقيقة) include, but not limited to: Haqiqa, Aqeeqa, Aqeeqah, Akika, Akikah, Akeeka, Akeekah, Hakeeka, Hakeekah, Hakika, Hakikah, Haqeeqa, Haqeeqah, etc…
Q6: What is the preferable/recommended time to perform Aqiqah?
The preferable method for Aqiqah is to perform it on the seventh day of the birth of the child.
Q7: When can Aqiqah be performed after a child is born?
The preferable method for Aqiqah is that it should be performed on the seventh day of the birth of the child, if not, then the 14th day or 21st day and so on.
Some scholars have said that this can be carried on till the child has become mature and say Aqiqah can be performed then. However, after this period performing Aqiqah is irrelevant.
Q8: Can Aqiqah be performed for a mature/grown-up individual?
Some scholars have given the Fatwa that Aqiqah is valid till the day of one’s death. If someone after becoming an adult performs his own Aqiqah, according to some scholars it is not valid but according to some scholars, it’s permissible as it is also understood from Fadhul Bari.
Q9: What types of animals need to be slaughtered?
The following is a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) where he advised Aqiqah a goat/sheep.
Narrated Umm Kurz: The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Two sheep which resemble each other are to be sacrificed for a boy and one for a girl. (Sunan Abu Dawood Book 15, No. 2830)
Q10: What should be the condition of the animal for Aqiqah?
The animal should not be blemished, blind, obviously sick, have a limp, undernourished or extremely weak. The animals to be slaughtered must be goats, cows or camels. For camels, it must be older than 6 years. For cows it must be older than 3 years and for goats, it must be older than 2 years.
