What is Aqiqa Qurbani?

Aqiqa qurbani is a very important worship in terms of Islam. For a newborn child, the qurbani slaughtered on the seventh day of his birth in gratitude to Allah is called ‘aqiqa’. This sacrifice expresses gratitude to Allah for the birth of the child and is also a prayer for the child to live a good life. It is sunnah to sacrifice two sacrifices for a boy and one sacrifice for a girl.

What is the Ruling of Aqiqa Sacrifice?

Slaughtering aqiqa sacrifice is sunnah according to most Islamic scholars. In other words, this is a recommended but not obligatory worship. When our Prophet (S.A.W), his grandsons Hasan and Hussein were born, he slaughtered aqiqa sacrifice on their behalf and advised his ummah on this issue.

When should the sacrifice of aqiqa be slaughtered?

The time for the sacrifice of aqiqa is the seventh day of birth. However, if this day is missed, it can be slaughtered later. Some scholars have even stated that a person can sacrifice aqiqa at a suitable time throughout his life. The important thing is to slaughter a sacrifice with this intention.

The Importance and Wisdom of Aqiqa Sacrifice

The sacrifice of ‘’aqiqa' has many wisdom. The first of these is to express gratitude to Allah and to celebrate a great blessing such as the birth of a child. In addition, this sacrifice is also intended to free the child from the responsibilities and burdens. In a sense, this is a prayer for the future mental and physical health of the child.

What should a person who did not perform the aqiqa qurbani do?

If a person did not sacrifice aqiqa at the time of his/her birth, he/she should not worry about it. Since Islam is a religion of convenience, it allows flexibility in such worship. In this case, the best thing to do is to slaughter an ‘’aqiqa‘’ qurbani on behalf of the person himself. This can be done even if the person is an adult, and it can be rewarded.

The Prophet (s.a.w.) left a wide field for his ummah regarding the aqiqa sacrifice. In a Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Every child is bound by the sacrifice of “”aqiqa’; on the seventh day, a sacrifice is slaughtered on his behalf, his name is given and his head is shaved‘’ (Abu Dawud, Edahi, 21). This explains the importance of the aqiqa sacrifice and when it should be slaughtered, but it also provides a way for those who miss the time. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) slaughtered his own aqiqa sacrifice after he was given prophethood. May Allah grant their intercession.