Aqiqah for newborns (male and female): What is its legally prescribed time? And is it required to cook it?
With the arrival of the newborn, many fathers and mothers are keen to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet by performing the ritual of Aqiqah , as it is one of the confirmed Sunnahs that is recommended to be done as an expression of gratitude to God Almighty for this blessing.
In summary, the Islamic ruling is that, according to the Sunnah, two sheep of equal value should be sacrificed for a newborn boy, and one sheep for a newborn girl . The seventh day after birth is considered the best time to perform the 'aqiqah, although it is permissible to perform it later if the seventh day is not possible.
The meat of the Aqiqah may be raw or cooked, and cooking it is not required for the Aqiqah to be valid, but rather it is left to the discretion of its owner.
In this guide, we review the most important Sharia rulings related to Aqiqah, and answer the most common questions about its timing, how to perform Aqiqah, and the best practices for carrying it out in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet.
Table of rules for the quick Aqiqah (Parents' Guide)
Comparison point / Legitimate number / Time limit / Ruling on delay
male newborn
Two sheep of equal size and age
The seventh day, then if it is missed, the fourteenth, then the twenty-first
It may be slaughtered at any later time and does not become invalid with the passage of time.
female newborn
One sheep is sufficient for the same purpose as a sacrificial animal.
The seventh day, then if it is missed, the fourteenth, then the twenty-first
It may be slaughtered at any later time and does not become invalid with the passage of time.
1. When does the legal time for the Aqiqah (birth sacrifice) begin to be calculated?
The seventh day is considered the best time to perform the Aqiqah.
The count begins from the day of birth if the baby is born before sunset . If the birth is after sunset, the following day is considered the first day of the count. For example, if the baby is born on Saturday morning, the seventh day is Friday.
If the 'aqiqah cannot be performed on the seventh day, it is recommended to perform it on the fourteenth day, and then again on the twenty-first. If that is also not possible, there is no harm in slaughtering the animal at any time thereafter, as a number of scholars believe that the time for the 'aqiqah does not lapse with the passing of these days, but rather remains permissible whenever it is possible to perform it. Furthermore, some scholars have held that it is permissible for a person to perform the 'aqiqah for himself once he reaches puberty, provided that it was not performed for him in his childhood.
2. Is it required to cook the Aqiqah (sacrifice)?
One of the most common questions concerns how to present the 'aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn), and whether it must be cooked before being given to others. The answer is that there is flexibility in this matter , and cooking the 'aqiqah is not a requirement for its validity.
Some scholars have recommended cooking the meat before serving it, as this makes things easier for relatives and neighbors and demonstrates generosity and kindness. Conversely, the majority of scholars consider it permissible to serve it raw after cutting and preparing it, without this affecting the validity of the 'aqiqah or diminishing its reward.
Therefore, the person who performs the Aqiqah can choose the method that is most suitable for his circumstances and the circumstances of those who will take the meat, whether by presenting it cooked or raw, as both are permissible according to Sharia.
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You can choose the appropriate type of animal for sacrifice, whether it is Naeemi , Swakni or Tays , and send it to villages in Africa in Tanzania, Cameroon and Malawi.
You can also benefit from the agency service , where the team will carry out all procedures on your behalf, starting from the slaughter, through documenting the process with a video mentioning the name of the newborn, and ending with preparing the sacrifice and delivering it to the deserving individuals, then sending the documentation PDF file to WhatsApp.
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