[Ask Ustaz] Aqiqah Q&A

1. What is the purpose of performing aqiqah for a newborn child?

Aqiqah is an act of worship performed by Muslims to celebrate the birth of a child. This worship involves the slaughter of certain animals for the child's benefit, in addition to shaving or cutting their hair and naming the child. According to Imam Syafi’e, performing aqiqah is sunnah muakkad (highly recommended). Aqiqah has several wisdoms, among them:

• It is a form of taqarrub (drawing closer) and gratitude to Allah SWT for the birth of a child.
• Creating good relationships with neighbors and relatives by sharing in the joy of the birth.
• Protection from the devil that can disturb the newborn child.
• Aqiqah is the child's redemption of a debt to grant intercession to both of their parents on the Day of Reckoning. 

2. What is the ruling on aqiqah?

The ruling on performing aqiqah is sunnah muakkad.

3. Who is enjoined to perform aqiqah?

• Parents or guardians who bear the child's expenses.
• Grandparents who wish to perform aqiqah for their grandchildren, like Prophet Muhammad SAW performed aqiqah for his grandchildren, Sayyidina Hassan and Hussain RA.
• The individual themselves if they are already an adult and capable, but were not aqiqah-ed by their parents, grandparents or guardians when they were young. Then they can perform aqiqah for themselves.

4. Is it necessary to mention the name when slaughtering for aqiqah?

There is no obligation to mention the name when slaughtering for aqiqah. The intention to perform aqiqah is sufficient.

5. Can someone else perform aqiqah for a child other than their parents?

Others can perform aqiqah for a child besides their parents, as long as they obtain permission from the child's parents or guardians. 

6. Does a male child need to have aqiqah performed with two goats slaughtered simultaneously or can it be done separately?

The original ruling for aqiqah slaughter for a male child is two goats, slaughtered in one ceremony. However, if one is unable or there are certain impediments, then it is permissible if slaughtered on other occasions and days, though it is less Afdhal (less optimal). This is also the fatwa presented by several scholars such as Sheikh Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Syinqithi and Sheikh Ibn Baz.

7. Is it permissible to perform aqiqah using two parts of a cow for a male child and one part of the same cow for a female child?

Dividing a cow into two parts for a male child and one part for a female child from the same cow is also permissible, as long as it is not less than one part for each female child.

8. If unable, can aqiqah be performed after the child reaches puberty or adulthood?

According to Sharia law, aqiqah is prescribed to be performed within the first seven days of a child's birth. However, if one is unable to perform aqiqah at that time, it can be done at a later time before the child reaches puberty or adulthood. If the child has reached puberty and aqiqah has not been performed, the sunnah (recommendation) for their parents to perform aqiqah lapses. However, the child can still perform aqiqah for themselves at any time.

9. Can an adult child perform aqiqah for themselves?

Yes, they can, if the child has not been aqiqah-ed by their parents.

10. Is it permissible to perform aqiqah for orphans using their own wealth?

Aqiqah is an act of worship prescribed to be performed by both parents as a sign of gratitude to Allah for the birth of a child. Therefore, aqiqah cannot be performed using the wealth of orphans. Instead, we are advised to give halal (permissible) and good wealth to orphans as charity or a gift.

11. How to calculate the seventh day from the child's birth?

To calculate the seventh day from the child's birth, we need to take the child's birth date and add six days to that date. For example, if the child is born on January 1, 2024, then the seventh day of the child's birth is January 7, 2024.

12. What other sunnah (recommended) practices can be performed concurrently with the aqiqah?

Besides the aqiqah slaughter, there are several sunnah practices that can be performed concurrently during the aqiqah. Among these sunnah practices are:

• Holding a hair shaving ceremony: It is sunnah to shave the baby's hair on the seventh day after birth.
• Naming the baby: It is sunnah to name the baby on the seventh day after birth.
• Giving charity: It is sunnah to give charity equivalent to the weight of the baby's shaven hair.
• Cooking aqiqah meat: It is sunnah to cook the aqiqah meat and share it with neighbors and family.
• Praying: It is sunnah to pray when about to slaughter the aqiqah animal so that the slaughter is accepted by Allah SWT and that the newborn child possesses strong faith and praiseworthy character.

13. Who is eligible to receive the aqiqah slaughtered meat?

The aqiqah slaughtered meat can be divided into three parts. The first part is given to one's own family, the second part is given to relatives and neighbors, and the third part is given to the poor and needy.

14. Is it permissible to distribute aqiqah meat to non-Muslims?

It depends on the situation; if our neighbors are non-Muslims, it is permissible to give them some aqiqah meat. It is indeed the right of a neighbor, whether Muslim or not, to feel happy with our happiness, so giving a small amount of aqiqah feast food to non-Muslim neighbors does not contradict the original purpose of celebrating aqiqah. If no food is gifted to such neighbors, it is feared that it might cause ill feelings.

15. Is it permissible to perform aqiqah with only one goat for a male child?

It is permissible. This is an opinion within the Shafi'i School, as quoted by Imam Al-Shirazi in his book Al-Muhazzab and also mentioned by Imam Al-Nawawi in his book Al-Majmu’.

This is based on a hadith from Ibn Abbas RA:

16. What should be recited when slaughtering for aqiqah?

It is a fundamental principle of practice in Islam that every deed should be preceded by a prayer (dua). This is to add further completeness to an act of worship. Thus, in the context of slaughtering an aqiqah animal, begin by reciting Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). Then, follow with the prayer “O Allah, this is the aqiqah of (mention child's name), it is a blessing from You, and to You we return it.”

17. Do the parents who intend to perform aqiqah and the child need to be present during the aqiqah slaughter?

There is no stipulation that requires parents or the child to be present during the aqiqah slaughter. However, it is recommended for both of them and the child to be present during the aqiqah slaughter to learn about aqiqah, besides strengthening family ties.

18. Is it permissible to delegate the slaughter of a child's aqiqah to a specific party?

It has become a common practice among Muslims worldwide to delegate the slaughter of sacrifice (qurban) to specific parties, whether to mosques, slaughterers, or certain companies, as is the case in Makkah Al-Mukarramah during the Hajj season. Therefore, delegating the slaughter of sacrifice to another party is permissible in religion to facilitate the practice.

19. Does aqiqah need to be performed within a certain age limit?

The age limit for performing aqiqah for male and female children is the same. Some opinions state that aqiqah is performed when the baby is newly born or on the seventh day after birth. However, there are also opinions that aqiqah can be performed on the 14th or 21st day after the child's birth. Therefore, there is no specific age limit for performing aqiqah. It is best to perform it before the child reaches the age of puberty (baligh).

20. What is the wisdom behind not breaking the bones of the aqiqah animal?

We are enjoined not to break the bones of the aqiqah slaughtered animal, but it is sunnah to cut it along the joints of the animal. This is in accordance with the hadith narrated by Abu Daud, where when Fatimah performed aqiqah for her child, the Messenger of Allah SAW said; “Eat and feast, but do not break its bones.” Among the wisdoms behind this injunction is so that the child will grow up perfectly and not be afflicted by anything that could deform them, such as fractures, etc.

21. If the conceived child has miscarried or the child for whom aqiqah has not been performed has passed away, is it still necessary to perform aqiqah for them?

Here we summarize several answers for four situations:

• If the fetus miscarries after four months or more, then aqiqah for it is sunnah (recommended).
• If the fetus miscarries before four months, then aqiqah for it is not sunnah (recommended).
• If a child is born and then passes away before the seventh day of their birth, then it is sunnah to perform aqiqah for them according to the rajih (most preponderant) opinion among the four schools of thought.
• If a child is born and then passes away after seven days from their birth date, and after the parents were capable, then it is still sunnah to perform aqiqah for them based on the most authentic opinion in the school of thought.

22. Can the individual who intends to perform aqiqah eat the slaughtered meat?

The slaughtered meat from the aqiqah worship can be eaten by the parents of the child for whom aqiqah was performed. They must not eat the meat themselves without feeding others. Therefore, if you intend to perform aqiqah, you can eat the slaughtered meat together with close family members, neighbors, friends, and the poor. 

23. How is aqiqah meat distributed?

In Islam, the distribution of aqiqah meat is done by distributing the meat to those who are eligible to receive it. Those eligible to receive aqiqah meat are as follows:

• The family performing the aqiqah.
• Ahlul Bait (Household of the Prophet).
• The poor and needy.

The distribution of aqiqah meat can be done by gifting it, giving it as charity, or consuming it oneself. There are differences of opinion among scholars regarding the distribution of aqiqah meat, but most scholars agree that the distribution of aqiqah meat is almost similar to the distribution of qurban (sacrifice) meat. Some of the meat can be eaten by the family performing the aqiqah, and some can be given as charity to the poor and needy and neighbors. Unlike qurban where the meat is sunnah to be distributed raw, for aqiqah, it is sunnah to be cooked with sweet dishes and served as a feast or distributed after being cooked. In a hadith narrated by Al-Baihaqi from Aisha RA; “Giving aqiqah meat as charity when it is already cooked is sunnah.”

24. Can the intentions for qurban (sacrifice) and aqiqah be combined?

It is not permissible to combine the intentions for aqiqah and qurban at the same time. Although qurban and aqiqah are of the same type, namely slaughter, both are sunnah acts of worship that carry distinct meanings and differ from each other. This opinion is also more ihtiyat (cautious) and avoids existing disagreements.

25. Can aqiqah be postponed if the parents are unable?

If parents are unable to perform aqiqah on the seventh day of the child's birth, then aqiqah can be postponed until the child is 14 days old. If still unable, aqiqah can be performed until the child is 21 days old. If the parents are still unable, then aqiqah can be performed when the child has reached adulthood (puberty). However, if the parents are genuinely unable to perform aqiqah, then the obligation to perform aqiqah lapses.

26. Can aqiqah be performed for an adopted child?

Aqiqah is a slaughter performed to celebrate the birth of a child. It can be performed for an adopted child, as long as the person who raises and provides for the child bears the responsibility.

27. Can parents perform aqiqah for their child if they still have outstanding debts?

If parents wish to perform aqiqah for their child and still have outstanding debts, they may take on debt to perform aqiqah, provided they have sufficient income to repay the debt later and it does not become a burden.

28. What is the ruling on borrowing money to perform aqiqah?

Basically, there is no problem if one wishes to perform aqiqah by taking on debt, as long as the debt can be repaid.

29. If a parent (mother or father) has not had aqiqah performed for themselves, but has now given birth to a baby, whose aqiqah should be prioritized?

Aqiqah is sunnah muakkadah (highly recommended). Therefore, if a parent has not had aqiqah performed for themselves, but has given birth to a baby, then the baby's aqiqah should be prioritized.

30. Can someone sponsor those in need to perform aqiqah?

If someone is unable to perform aqiqah, then they are not obligated to do so. However, if someone wishes to sponsor another person's aqiqah, it is permissible. If someone wishes to sponsor another person's aqiqah, they must ensure that the source of funds used for sponsoring the aqiqah is halal (permissible) and does not originate from riba (usury/interest), in addition to obtaining permission from their parents beforehand. 

• Learn about The Ruling on Performing Aqiqah for Oneself